diff --git a/src/steal.c b/src/steal.c
index 94fcaca2e..4b5378d96 100644
--- a/src/steal.c
+++ b/src/steal.c
@@ -676,6 +676,7 @@ boolean is_pet; /* If true, pet should keep wielded/worn items */
         if (canspotmon(mtmp))
             pline("%s gold %s.", s_suffix(Monnam(mtmp)),
                   canseemon(mtmp) ? "vanishes" : "seems to vanish");
+        obj_extract_self(otmp);
         obfree(otmp, (struct obj *) 0);
     } /* isgd && has gold */