diff --git a/include/hack.h b/include/hack.h
index 9628fa977..2ed2e882d 100644
--- a/include/hack.h
+++ b/include/hack.h
@@ -543,6 +543,7 @@ enum bodypart_types {
 #define ECMD_OK     0x00 /* cmd done successfully */
 #define ECMD_TIME   0x01 /* cmd took time, uses up a turn */
 #define ECMD_CANCEL 0x02 /* cmd canceled by user */
+#define ECMD_FAIL   0x04 /* cmd failed to finish, maybe with a yafm */
 
 /* values returned from getobj() callback functions */
 enum getobj_callback_returns {
diff --git a/src/cmd.c b/src/cmd.c
index 1188c77bd..4b8272a8d 100644
--- a/src/cmd.c
+++ b/src/cmd.c
@@ -3976,9 +3976,9 @@ rhack(char *cmd)
                 prefix_seen = 0;
                 was_m_prefix = FALSE;
             }
-            if ((res & ECMD_CANCEL)) {
+            if ((res & (ECMD_CANCEL|ECMD_FAIL))) {
                 /* command was canceled by user, maybe they declined to
-                   pick an object to act on. */
+                   pick an object to act on, or command failed to finish */
                 reset_cmd_vars(TRUE);
                 prefix_seen = 0;
                 cmdq_ec = NULL;
diff --git a/src/wield.c b/src/wield.c
index fbec5db1f..1c3b549c0 100644
--- a/src/wield.c
+++ b/src/wield.c
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ ready_weapon(struct obj *wep)
         You("cannot wield a two-handed %s while wearing a shield.",
             is_sword(wep) ? "sword" : wep->otyp == BATTLE_AXE ? "axe"
                                                               : "weapon");
+        res = ECMD_FAIL;
     } else if (!retouch_object(&wep, FALSE)) {
         res = ECMD_TIME; /* takes a turn even though it doesn't get wielded */
     } else {
@@ -420,7 +421,7 @@ dowield(void)
         setuswapwep(oldwep);
     untwoweapon();
 
-    return result ? ECMD_TIME : ECMD_OK;
+    return result;
 }
 
 /* the #swap command - swap wielded and secondary weapons */
@@ -466,7 +467,7 @@ doswapweapon(void)
     if (u.twoweap && !can_twoweapon())
         untwoweapon();
 
-    return result ? ECMD_TIME : ECMD_OK;
+    return result;
 }
 
 /* the #quiver command */