diff --git a/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua b/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua
index e5cd2e478..e948705c0 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/autoseed.lua
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 local autoseed = {}
 
 -- minimum required resources in the 7-hex neighborhood:
-local peasants = 20000
-local trees = 1000
+local peasants = 10000
+local trees = 800
 -- number of starters per region:
 local per_region = 2
     
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ local function select_regions(regions, peasants, trees)
     local sel = {}
     for r in regions do
         if not r.plane and r.terrain~="ocean" and not r.units() then
-            if score(r, "peasant") >= peasants and score(r, "tree") >= trees then
-                table.insert(sel, r)
+            sp = score(r, "peasant")
+            st = score(r, "tree")
+            if sp >= peasants then
+                if st >= trees then
+                    table.insert(sel, r)
+                end
             end
         end
     end
@@ -47,8 +51,11 @@ local function read_players()
 end
 
 local function seed(r, email, race, lang)
+    assert(r)
     local f = faction.create(email, race, lang)
+    assert(f)
     local u = unit.create(f, r)
+    assert(u)
     equip_unit(u, "new_faction")
     equip_unit(u, "first_unit")
     equip_unit(u, "first_" .. race, 7) -- disable old callbacks
@@ -69,31 +76,38 @@ end
 
 function autoseed.init()
     -- local newbs = {}
-    local num_seeded = per_region
+    local num_seeded = 0
     local start = nil
 
     eressea.log.info('autoseed new players')
     players = read_players()
+    if players then
+        print('autoseed ' .. #players .. ' new players')
+    end
     if players and #players >= per_region then
         local sel
         eressea.log.info(#players .. ' new players')
         sel = select_regions(regions(), peasants, trees)
-        for _, p in ipairs(players) do
-            if num_seeded == per_region then
-                while not start or start.units() do
-                    local index = 1 + (rng_int() % #sel)
-                    start = sel[index]
+        if #sel == 0 then
+            eressea.log.error("autoseed could not select regions for new factions")
+        else
+            for _, p in ipairs(players) do
+                if num_seeded == per_region then
+                    local index = rng_int() % #sel
+                    while not start do
+                        start = sel[index + 1]
+                        index = (index + 1) % #sel
+                    end
+                    num_seeded = 0
+                end
+                local dupe = get_faction_by_email(p.email)
+                if dupe then
+                    eressea.log.warning("seed: duplicate email " .. p.email .. " already used by " .. tostring(dupe))
+                else
+                    print("new faction ".. p.email .. " starts in ".. tostring(start))
+                    local f = seed(start, p.email, p.race or "human", p.lang or "de")
+                    num_seeded = num_seeded + 1
                 end
-                num_seeded = 0
-            end
-            local dupe = get_faction_by_email(p.email)
-            if dupe then
-                eressea.log.warning("seed: duplicate email " .. p.email .. " already used by " .. tostring(dupe))
-            else
-                local f = seed(start, p.email, p.race or "human", p.lang or "de")
-                num_seeded = num_seeded + 1
-                print("new faction ".. tostring(f) .. " starts in ".. tostring(start))
-                -- table.insert(newbs, f)
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/src/bind_unit.c b/src/bind_unit.c
index 29c2d287a..353bd4667 100755
--- a/src/bind_unit.c
+++ b/src/bind_unit.c
@@ -889,19 +889,15 @@ static int tolua_unit_create(lua_State * L)
 {
     faction *f = (faction *)tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
     region *r = (region *)tolua_tousertype(L, 2, 0);
+    const char *rcname = tolua_tostring(L, 4, NULL);
     int num = (int)tolua_tonumber(L, 3, 1);
-    if (f && r) {
-        const race *rc = f->race;
-        const char *rcname = tolua_tostring(L, 4, NULL);
-        if (rcname)
-            rc = rc_find(rcname);
-        if (rc) {
-            unit *u = create_unit(r, f, num, rc, 0, NULL, NULL);
-            tolua_pushusertype(L, u, TOLUA_CAST "unit");
-            return 1;
-        }
-    }
-    return 0;
+    const race *rc;
+    assert(f && r);
+    rc = rcname ? rc_find(rcname) : f->race;
+    assert(rc);
+    unit *u = create_unit(r, f, num, rc, 0, NULL, NULL);
+    tolua_pushusertype(L, u, TOLUA_CAST "unit");
+    return 1;
 }
 
 static int tolua_unit_tostring(lua_State * L)
diff --git a/src/bindings.c b/src/bindings.c
index b2db9d761..b95b1f9f0 100755
--- a/src/bindings.c
+++ b/src/bindings.c
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ static int tolua_equipunit(lua_State * L)
     unit *u = (unit *)tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
     const char *eqname = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
     int mask = (int)tolua_tonumber(L, 3, EQUIP_ALL);
-    assert(mask > 0);
+    assert(u && mask > 0);
     equip_unit_mask(u, get_equipment(eqname), mask);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 12afb6909..fd82bed96 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ static unit *unitorders(FILE * F, int enc, struct faction *f)
                 if (s[0] != '@') {
                     char token[128];
                     const char *stok = s;
-                    stok = parse_token(&stok, token, sizeof(token));
+                    stok = parse_token(&stok, token, 64); // FIXME: use sizeof, but parse_token overwrites the buffer
 
                     if (stok) {
                         bool quit = false;