diff --git a/src/explode.c b/src/explode.c
index cd8e92f1f..b755e1f9c 100644
--- a/src/explode.c
+++ b/src/explode.c
@@ -441,8 +441,7 @@ struct obj *obj;			/* only scatter this obj        */
 			&& rn2(10)) {
 		if (otmp->otyp == BOULDER) {
 		    pline("%s apart.", Tobjnam(otmp, "break"));
-		    fracture_rock(otmp); /* this will place fragments on floor */
-		    obj_extract_self(otmp);
+		    fracture_rock(otmp);
 		    place_object(otmp, sx, sy);
 		    if ((otmp = sobj_at(BOULDER, sx, sy)) != 0) {
 			/* another boulder here, restack it to the top */
@@ -455,8 +454,7 @@ struct obj *obj;			/* only scatter this obj        */
 		    if ((trap = t_at(sx,sy)) && trap->ttyp == STATUE_TRAP)
 			    deltrap(trap);
 		    pline("%s.", Tobjnam(otmp, "crumble"));
-		    (void) break_statue(otmp); /*this will place fragments on floor */
-		    obj_extract_self(otmp);
+		    (void) break_statue(otmp);
 		    place_object(otmp, sx, sy);	/* put fragments on floor */
 		}
 		used_up = TRUE;
diff --git a/src/zap.c b/src/zap.c
index 62ba27b0c..ca26d524c 100644
--- a/src/zap.c
+++ b/src/zap.c
@@ -3708,12 +3708,14 @@ register struct obj *obj;		   /* no texts here! */
 	obj->onamelth = 0;		/* no names */
 	obj->oxlth = 0;			/* no extra data */
 	obj->oattached = OATTACHED_NOTHING;
-	obj_extract_self(obj);		/* move rocks back on top */
-	place_object(obj, obj->ox, obj->oy);
-	if(!does_block(obj->ox,obj->oy,&levl[obj->ox][obj->oy]))
-	    unblock_point(obj->ox,obj->oy);
-	if(cansee(obj->ox,obj->oy))
-	    newsym(obj->ox,obj->oy);
+	if (obj->where == OBJ_FLOOR) {
+		obj_extract_self(obj);		/* move rocks back on top */
+		place_object(obj, obj->ox, obj->oy);
+		if(!does_block(obj->ox,obj->oy,&levl[obj->ox][obj->oy]))
+	    		unblock_point(obj->ox,obj->oy);
+		if(cansee(obj->ox,obj->oy))
+		    newsym(obj->ox,obj->oy);
+	}
 }
 
 /* handle statue hit by striking/force bolt/pick-axe */