diff --git a/src/common/kernel/battle.c b/src/common/kernel/battle.c
index 1b6063cce..b3c86ad92 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/battle.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/battle.c
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ rmfighter(fighter *df, int i)
 }
 
 
-void
+static void
 rmtroop(troop dt)
 {
   fighter *df = dt.fighter;
@@ -835,6 +835,24 @@ rmtroop(troop dt)
 
 void
 remove_troop(troop dt)
+{
+  fighter * df = dt.fighter;
+  struct person p = df->person[dt.index];
+  battle * b = df->side->battle;
+#ifdef FASTCOUNT
+  b->fast.alive = -1; /* invalidate cached value */
+#endif
+#ifdef FASTROW
+  b->rowcache.alive = -1; /* invalidate cached value */
+#endif
+  ++df->removed;
+  ++df->side->removed;
+  df->person[dt.index] = df->person[df->alive-df->removed];
+  df->person[df->alive - df->removed] = p;
+}
+
+void
+kill_troop(troop dt)
 {
   fighter * df = dt.fighter;
   unit * du = df->unit;
@@ -1211,7 +1229,7 @@ terminate(troop dt, troop at, int type, const char *damage, boolean missile)
       if (rng_int() % 4 < 1) i_change(pitm, itype, -1);
     }
   }
-  remove_troop(dt);
+  kill_troop(dt);
 
   return true;
 }
@@ -3687,7 +3705,7 @@ flee(const troop dt)
   fig->run.hp += fig->person[dt.index].hp;
   ++fig->run.number;
 
-  remove_troop(dt);
+  kill_troop(dt);
 }
 
 #ifdef DELAYED_OFFENSE
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/battle.h b/src/common/kernel/battle.h
index 389ec4195..cec5885d2 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/battle.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/battle.h
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ extern "C" {
   extern fighter * make_fighter(struct battle * b, struct unit * u, side * s, boolean attack);
   extern int statusrow(int status);
   extern void drain_exp(struct unit *u, int d);
-  extern void rmtroop(troop dt);
+  extern void kill_troop(troop dt);
+  extern void remove_troop(troop dt); /* not the same as the badly named rmtroop */
   extern boolean is_attacker(const fighter * fig);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/src/common/spells/combatspells.c b/src/common/spells/combatspells.c
index 2907ef2ca..41ab91c86 100644
--- a/src/common/spells/combatspells.c
+++ b/src/common/spells/combatspells.c
@@ -184,16 +184,11 @@ sp_versteinern(fighter * fi, int level, double power, spell * sp)
 
   while (force && stoned < enemies) {
     troop dt = select_enemy(fi, FIGHT_ROW, BEHIND_ROW, SELECT_ADVANCE);
-    fighter * df = dt.fighter;
-    unit * du = df->unit;
+    unit * du = dt.fighter->unit;
     if (is_magic_resistant(mage, du, 0) == false) {
       /* person ans ende hinter die lebenden schieben */
-      struct person p = dt.fighter->person[dt.index];
-      ++dt.fighter->removed;
-      ++dt.fighter->side->removed;
+      remove_troop(dt);
       ++stoned;
-      dt.fighter->person[dt.index] = dt.fighter->person[df->alive-df->removed];
-      dt.fighter->person[(df->alive - df->removed)] = p;
     }
     --force;
   }
@@ -528,7 +523,7 @@ sp_mindblast(fighter * fi, int level, double power, spell * sp)
         reduce_skill(du, sv, n);
       } else {
         /* Keine Skills mehr, Einheit töten */
-        rmtroop(dt);
+        kill_troop(dt);
         ++killed;
       }
       --enemies;