diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index 0f1a7874e..2ac2a1e1c 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -372,13 +372,19 @@ static int do_recruiting(recruitment * recruits, int available)
         use_pooled(u, get_resourcetype(R_SILVER), GET_DEFAULT,
           rc->recruitcost * number);
       }
-      add_recruits(u, number, req->qty);
-      dec = (int)(number * multi);
-      if ((rc->ec_flags & ECF_REC_ETHEREAL) == 0) {
-        recruited += dec;
+      if (u->number == 0 && !fval(u, UFL_ISNEW)) {
+          /* unit is empty, and not a TEMP => it is dead, and cannot recruit */
+          number = 0;
       }
+      if (number > 0) {
+          add_recruits(u, number, req->qty);
+          dec = (int)(number * multi);
+          if ((rc->ec_flags & ECF_REC_ETHEREAL) == 0) {
+              recruited += dec;
+          }
 
-      get -= dec;
+          get -= dec;
+      }
     }
   }
   return recruited;