diff --git a/src/makemon.c b/src/makemon.c
index c6ec1a687..984280e22 100644
--- a/src/makemon.c
+++ b/src/makemon.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.7	makemon.c	$NHDT-Date: 1651886995 2022/05/07 01:29:55 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.204 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.7	makemon.c	$NHDT-Date: 1695327268 2023/09/21 20:14:28 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.227 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /*-Copyright (c) Robert Patrick Rankin, 2012. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ makemon(
     if ((ct = emits_light(mtmp->data)) > 0)
         new_light_source(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my, ct, LS_MONSTER,
                          monst_to_any(mtmp));
-    mitem = 0; /* extra inventory item for this monster */
+    mitem = STRANGE_OBJECT; /* extra inventory item for this monster */
 
     if (mndx == PM_VLAD_THE_IMPALER)
         mitem = CANDELABRUM_OF_INVOCATION;
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@ makemon(
     } else if (mndx == PM_PESTILENCE) {
         mitem = POT_SICKNESS;
     }
-    if (mitem && allow_minvent)
+    if (mitem != STRANGE_OBJECT && allow_minvent)
         (void) mongets(mtmp, mitem);
 
     if (gi.in_mklev) {