diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index de8e38476..710fc871c 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -405,6 +405,8 @@ the weight of a non-cursed bag of holding was sometimes off by 1 unit
 for number_pad:2 (MSDOS compatibility), M-5 (Alt+5, or Shift+keypad5 using
 	MSDOS/Windows keystroke hackery) didn't function as G movement prefix
 objects inside the Wizard's Tower can't be teleport to outside and vica versa
+unlit candelabrum would become unlightable if its candles had exactly 1 turn
+	of fuel left and it was applied anywhere other than the invocation spot
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/apply.c b/src/apply.c
index d3de0fd36..979a63860 100644
--- a/src/apply.c
+++ b/src/apply.c
@@ -1040,9 +1040,12 @@ register struct obj *obj;
 		pline("%s's %s burn%s", The(xname(obj)), s,
 			(Blind ? "." : " brightly!"));
 	}
-	if (!invocation_pos(u.ux, u.uy)) {
+	if (!invocation_pos(u.ux, u.uy) || On_stairs(u.ux, u.uy)) {
 		pline_The("%s %s being rapidly consumed!", s, vtense(s, "are"));
-		obj->age /= 2;
+		/* this used to be obj->age /= 2, rounding down; an age of
+		   1 would yield 0, confusing begin_burn() and producing an
+		   unlightable, unrefillable candelabrum; round up instead */
+		obj->age = (obj->age + 1L) / 2L;
 	} else {
 		if(obj->spe == 7) {
 		    if (Blind)