diff --git a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
index e8f7323b4..b6375af04 100644
--- a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
+++ b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
@@ -1068,6 +1068,8 @@ if hero's action caused engulfer to expel swallowed hero, it might do so onto
 throwing recoil while levitating could send hero out of shop while carrying
 	unpaid items, triggering sanity check warnings; once outside, taking
 	a step other than back into the shop was treated as a robbery
+if punished and iron ball was cursed and wielded--so welded to hand--falling
+	when doors would drop it instead of keeping it welded
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/ball.c b/src/ball.c
index 8d0794d9c..c3d542ef7 100644
--- a/src/ball.c
+++ b/src/ball.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ static struct breadcrumbs bcpbreadcrumbs = {0}, bcubreadcrumbs = {0};
 void
 ballrelease(boolean showmsg)
 {
-    if (carried(uball)) {
+    if (carried(uball) && !welded(uball)) {
         if (showmsg)
             pline("Startled, you drop the iron ball.");
         if (uwep == uball)
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ ballfall(void)
 {
     boolean gets_hit;
 
+    if (uball && carried(uball) && welded(uball))
+        return;
+
     gets_hit = (((uball->ox != u.ux) || (uball->oy != u.uy))
                 && ((uwep == uball) ? FALSE : (boolean) rn2(5)));
     ballrelease(TRUE);
@@ -996,7 +999,7 @@ drag_down(void)
      */
     forward = carried(uball) && (uwep == uball || !uwep || !rn2(3));
 
-    if (carried(uball))
+    if (carried(uball) && !welded(uball))
         You("lose your grip on the iron ball.");
 
     cls();  /* previous level is still displayed although you
diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index 9d13d6421..17c8ca290 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -595,6 +595,19 @@ canletgo(struct obj *obj, const char *word)
             Norep("You cannot %s %s you are wearing.", word, something);
         return FALSE;
     }
+    if (obj == uwep && welded(uwep)) {
+        /* no weldmsg(), so uwep->bknown might become set silently
+           if word is "" */
+        if (*word) {
+            const char *hand = body_part(HAND);
+
+            if (bimanual(uwep))
+                hand = makeplural(hand);
+            Norep("You cannot %s %s welded to your %s.", word, something,
+                  hand);
+        }
+        return FALSE;
+    }
     if (obj->otyp == LOADSTONE && obj->cursed) {
         /* getobj() kludge sets corpsenm to user's specified count
            when refusing to split a stack of cursed loadstones */
@@ -1612,7 +1625,8 @@ goto_level(
                 You("fall down the %s.", ga.at_ladder ? "ladder" : "stairs");
                 if (Punished) {
                     drag_down();
-                    ballrelease(FALSE);
+                    if (!welded(uball))
+                        ballrelease(FALSE);
                 }
                 /* falling off steed has its own losehp() call */
                 if (u.usteed)
@@ -1632,7 +1646,7 @@ goto_level(
     } else { /* trap door or level_tele or In_endgame */
         u_on_rndspot((up ? 1 : 0) | (was_in_W_tower ? 2 : 0));
         if (falling) {
-            if (Punished)
+            if (Punished && !welded(uball))
                 ballfall();
             selftouch("Falling, you");
             do_fall_dmg = TRUE;
diff --git a/src/wield.c b/src/wield.c
index 5971b75ef..c9b9ef89a 100644
--- a/src/wield.c
+++ b/src/wield.c
@@ -1030,11 +1030,15 @@ void
 weldmsg(struct obj *obj)
 {
     long savewornmask;
+    const char *hand = body_part(HAND);
 
+    if (bimanual(obj))
+        hand = makeplural(hand);
     savewornmask = obj->owornmask;
-    pline("%s welded to your %s!", Yobjnam2(obj, "are"),
-          bimanual(obj) ? (const char *) makeplural(body_part(HAND))
-                        : body_part(HAND));
+    obj->owornmask = 0L; /* suppress doname()'s "(weapon in hand)";
+                          * Yobjnam2() doesn't actually need this because
+                          * it is based on xname() rather than doname() */
+    pline("%s welded to your %s!", Yobjnam2(obj, "are"), hand);
     obj->owornmask = savewornmask;
 }