diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 88955cc31..9385f41d4 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -2237,6 +2237,7 @@ E int FDECL(chwepon, (struct obj *,int));
 E int FDECL(welded, (struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(weldmsg, (struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(setmnotwielded, (struct monst *,struct obj *));
+E void NDECL(drop_uswapwep);
 
 /* ### windows.c ### */
 
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index 2068104bb..156b06044 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -714,6 +714,10 @@ register struct obj *otmp;
 	otmp->cursed = 1;
 	/* welded two-handed weapon interferes with some armor removal */
 	if (otmp == uwep && bimanual(uwep)) reset_remarm();
+	/* rules at top of wield.c state that twoweapon cannot be done
+	   with cursed alternate weapon */
+	if (otmp == uswapwep && u.twoweap)
+	    drop_uswapwep();
 	/* some cursed items need immediate updating */
 	if (carried(otmp) && confers_luck(otmp))
 	    set_moreluck();
diff --git a/src/wield.c b/src/wield.c
index fad266953..53daf89c8 100644
--- a/src/wield.c
+++ b/src/wield.c
@@ -440,20 +440,26 @@ can_twoweapon()
 		Sprintf(kbuf, "%s corpse", an(mons[uswapwep->corpsenm].mname));
 		instapetrify(kbuf);
 	} else if (Glib || uswapwep->cursed) {
-		char str[BUFSZ];
-		struct obj *obj = uswapwep;
-
-		/* Avoid trashing makeplural's static buffer */
-		Strcpy(str, makeplural(body_part(HAND)));
-		Your("%s from your %s!",  aobjnam(obj, "slip"), str);
 		if (!Glib)
-			obj->bknown = TRUE;
-		dropx(obj);
+			uswapwep->bknown = TRUE;
+		drop_uswapwep();
 	} else
 		return (TRUE);
 	return (FALSE);
 }
 
+void
+drop_uswapwep()
+{
+	char str[BUFSZ];
+	struct obj *obj = uswapwep;
+
+	/* Avoid trashing makeplural's static buffer */
+	Strcpy(str, makeplural(body_part(HAND)));
+	Your("%s from your %s!",  aobjnam(obj, "slip"), str);
+	dropx(obj);
+}
+
 int
 dotwoweapon()
 {