diff --git a/src/makemon.c b/src/makemon.c
index b2900db9b..5ed63ab64 100644
--- a/src/makemon.c
+++ b/src/makemon.c
@@ -2212,6 +2212,10 @@ set_mimic_sym(register struct monst *mtmp)
      */
 
     } else if (rt >= SHOPBASE) {
+        if (rn2(10) >= depth(&u.uz)) {
+            s_sym = S_MIMIC_DEF; /* -> STRANGE_OBJECT */
+            goto assign_sym;
+        }
         s_sym = get_shop_item(rt - SHOPBASE);
         if (s_sym < 0) {
             ap_type = M_AP_OBJECT;
diff --git a/src/shknam.c b/src/shknam.c
index ecba17993..2f7e1998c 100644
--- a/src/shknam.c
+++ b/src/shknam.c
@@ -463,11 +463,7 @@ mkshobj_at(const struct shclass* shp, int sx, int sy, boolean mkspecl)
     if (rn2(100) < depth(&u.uz) && !MON_AT(sx, sy)
         && (ptr = mkclass(S_MIMIC, 0)) != 0
         && (mtmp = makemon(ptr, sx, sy, NO_MM_FLAGS)) != 0) {
-        /* note: makemon will set the mimic symbol to a shop item */
-        if (rn2(10) >= depth(&u.uz)) {
-            mtmp->m_ap_type = M_AP_OBJECT;
-            mtmp->mappearance = STRANGE_OBJECT;
-        }
+        /* nothing */
     } else {
         atype = get_shop_item((int) (shp - shtypes));
         if (atype == VEGETARIAN_CLASS)