diff --git a/src/spell.c b/src/spell.c
index 889f624ba..43c2acd51 100644
--- a/src/spell.c
+++ b/src/spell.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.7	spell.c	$NHDT-Date: 1762680996 2025/11/09 01:36:36 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.179 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.7	spell.c	$NHDT-Date: 1769498874 2026/01/26 23:27:54 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.185 $ */
 /*      Copyright (c) M. Stephenson 1988                          */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -1549,13 +1549,23 @@ spelleffects(int spell_otyp, boolean atme, boolean force)
     case SPE_CURE_BLINDNESS:
         healup(0, 0, FALSE, TRUE);
         break;
-    case SPE_CURE_SICKNESS:
-        if (Sick)
-            You("are no longer ill.");
-        if (Slimed)
-            make_slimed(0L, "The slime disappears!");
+    case SPE_CURE_SICKNESS: {
+        boolean was_sick = !!Sick, was_slimed = !!Slimed;
+
+        /* cure conditions (which updates status) before feedback */
         healup(0, 0, TRUE, FALSE);
+        /*
+         *  Sick + !Slimed -- You are no longer ill.
+         * !Sick + !Slimed -- You are not ill.
+         * !Sick +  Slimed -- The slime disappears.
+         *  Sick +  Slimed -- You are no longer ill.  The slime disappears.
+         */
+        if (was_sick || !was_slimed)
+            You("are %s ill.", was_sick ? "no longer" : "not");
+        if (was_slimed)
+            make_slimed(0L, "The slime disappears!");
         break;
+    }
     case SPE_CREATE_FAMILIAR:
         (void) make_familiar((struct obj *) 0, u.ux, u.uy, FALSE);
         break;