diff --git a/src/bindings.c b/src/bindings.c
index a8581f2d1..4444a5515 100755
--- a/src/bindings.c
+++ b/src/bindings.c
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ static int tolua_equipunit(lua_State * L)
     const char *eqname = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
     int mask = (int)tolua_tonumber(L, 3, EQUIP_ALL);
     assert(u && mask > 0);
-    equip_unit_mask(u, get_equipment(eqname), mask);
+    equip_unit_mask(u, eqname, mask);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index a41b4525e..5fbb0111c 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ void add_recruits(unit * u, int number, int wanted)
 
         len = snprintf(equipment, sizeof(equipment), "new_%s", u_race(u)->_name);
         if (len > 0 && (size_t)len < sizeof(equipment)) {
-            equip_unit(unew, get_equipment(equipment));
+            equip_unit(unew, equipment);
         }
         if (unew != u) {
             transfermen(unew, u, unew->number);
diff --git a/src/kernel/callbacks.h b/src/kernel/callbacks.h
index dcdf6ac90..1977cd284 100644
--- a/src/kernel/callbacks.h
+++ b/src/kernel/callbacks.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #ifndef H_KRNL_CALLBACKS_H
 #define H_KRNL_CALLBACKS_H
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ extern "C" {
     struct resource_type;
 
     struct callback_struct {
+        bool (*equip_unit)(struct unit *u, const char *eqname, int mask);
         int (*cast_spell)(struct castorder *co, const char *fname);
         int (*use_item)(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype,
             int amount, struct order *ord);
diff --git a/src/kernel/equipment.c b/src/kernel/equipment.c
index 99c0bba7b..7b1af07f9 100644
--- a/src/kernel/equipment.c
+++ b/src/kernel/equipment.c
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "equipment.h"
 
 /* kernel includes */
-#include "item.h"
-#include "unit.h"
+#include "callbacks.h"
 #include "faction.h"
+#include "item.h"
 #include "race.h"
 #include "spell.h"
+#include "unit.h"
 
 /* util includes */
 #include <selist.h>
@@ -88,80 +89,90 @@ equipment_setitem(equipment * eq, const item_type * itype, const char *value)
 }
 
 void
-equipment_setcallback(struct equipment *eq,
-void(*callback) (const struct equipment *, struct unit *))
+equipment_setcallback(struct equipment *eq, equip_callback_fun callback)
 {
     eq->callback = callback;
 }
 
-void equip_unit(struct unit *u, const struct equipment *eq)
+bool equip_unit(struct unit *u, const char *eqname)
 {
-    equip_unit_mask(u, eq, EQUIP_ALL);
+    return equip_unit_mask(u, eqname, EQUIP_ALL);
 }
 
-void equip_unit_mask(struct unit *u, const struct equipment *eq, int mask)
+bool equip_unit_mask(struct unit *u, const char *eqname, int mask)
 {
+    const equipment * eq = get_equipment(eqname);
     if (eq) {
+        equip_unit_set(u, eq, mask);
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (callbacks.equip_unit) {
+        return callbacks.equip_unit(u, eqname, mask);
+    }
+    return false;
+}
 
-        if (mask & EQUIP_SKILLS) {
-            int sk;
-            for (sk = 0; sk != MAXSKILLS; ++sk) {
-                if (eq->skills[sk] != NULL) {
-                    int i = dice_rand(eq->skills[sk]);
-                    if (i > 0) {
-                        set_level(u, (skill_t)sk, i);
-                        if (sk == SK_STAMINA) {
-                            u->hp = unit_max_hp(u) * u->number;
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (mask & EQUIP_SPELLS) {
-            if (eq->spells) {
-                selist * ql = eq->spells;
-                int qi;
-                sc_mage * mage = get_mage_depr(u);
-
-                for (qi = 0; ql; selist_advance(&ql, &qi, 1)) {
-                    lazy_spell *sbe = (lazy_spell *)selist_get(ql, qi);
-                    spell *sp = spellref_get(sbe->spref);
-                    unit_add_spell(u, mage, sp, sbe->level);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (mask & EQUIP_ITEMS) {
-            itemdata *idata;
-            for (idata = eq->items; idata != NULL; idata = idata->next) {
-                int i = u->number * dice_rand(idata->value);
+void equip_unit_set(struct unit *u, const equipment *eq, int mask)
+{
+    if (mask & EQUIP_SKILLS) {
+        int sk;
+        for (sk = 0; sk != MAXSKILLS; ++sk) {
+            if (eq->skills[sk] != NULL) {
+                int i = dice_rand(eq->skills[sk]);
                 if (i > 0) {
-                    i_add(&u->items, i_new(idata->itype, i));
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (eq->subsets) {
-            int i;
-            for (i = 0; eq->subsets[i].sets; ++i) {
-                if (chance(eq->subsets[i].chance)) {
-                    double rnd = (1 + rng_int() % 1000) / 1000.0;
-                    int k;
-                    for (k = 0; eq->subsets[i].sets[k].set; ++k) {
-                        if (rnd <= eq->subsets[i].sets[k].chance) {
-                            equip_unit_mask(u, eq->subsets[i].sets[k].set, mask);
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        rnd -= eq->subsets[i].sets[k].chance;
+                    set_level(u, (skill_t)sk, i);
+                    if (sk == SK_STAMINA) {
+                        u->hp = unit_max_hp(u) * u->number;
                     }
                 }
             }
         }
+    }
 
-        if (mask & EQUIP_SPECIAL) {
-            if (eq->callback)
-                eq->callback(eq, u);
+    if (mask & EQUIP_SPELLS) {
+        if (eq->spells) {
+            selist * ql = eq->spells;
+            int qi;
+            sc_mage * mage = get_mage_depr(u);
+
+            for (qi = 0; ql; selist_advance(&ql, &qi, 1)) {
+                lazy_spell *sbe = (lazy_spell *)selist_get(ql, qi);
+                spell *sp = spellref_get(sbe->spref);
+                unit_add_spell(u, mage, sp, sbe->level);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (eq->items && mask & EQUIP_ITEMS) {
+        itemdata *idata;
+        for (idata = eq->items; idata != NULL; idata = idata->next) {
+            int i = u->number * dice_rand(idata->value);
+            if (i > 0) {
+                i_add(&u->items, i_new(idata->itype, i));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (eq->subsets) {
+        int i;
+        for (i = 0; eq->subsets[i].sets; ++i) {
+            if (chance(eq->subsets[i].chance)) {
+                double rnd = (1 + rng_int() % 1000) / 1000.0;
+                int k;
+                for (k = 0; eq->subsets[i].sets[k].set; ++k) {
+                    if (rnd <= eq->subsets[i].sets[k].chance) {
+                        equip_unit_set(u, eq->subsets[i].sets[k].set, mask);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    rnd -= eq->subsets[i].sets[k].chance;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (mask & EQUIP_SPECIAL) {
+        if (eq->callback) {
+            eq->callback(eq, u);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/equipment.h b/src/kernel/equipment.h
index 9fbffe67f..5ba1a4182 100644
--- a/src/kernel/equipment.h
+++ b/src/kernel/equipment.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "skill.h"
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -44,12 +46,14 @@ extern "C" {
         subsetitem *sets;
     } subset;
 
+    typedef void(*equip_callback_fun) (const struct equipment *, struct unit *);
+
     typedef struct equipment {
         struct itemdata *items;
         char *skills[MAXSKILLS];
         struct selist *spells;
         struct subset *subsets;
-        void(*callback) (const struct equipment *, struct unit *);
+        equip_callback_fun callback;
     } equipment;
 
     void equipment_done(void);
@@ -64,18 +68,17 @@ extern "C" {
     void equipment_setskill(struct equipment *eq, skill_t sk,
         const char *value);
     void equipment_addspell(struct equipment *eq, const char *name, int level);
-    void equipment_setcallback(struct equipment *eq,
-        void(*callback) (const struct equipment *, struct unit *));
+    void equipment_setcallback(struct equipment *eq, equip_callback_fun callback);
 
-    void equip_unit(struct unit *u, const struct equipment *eq);
 #define EQUIP_SKILLS  (1<<1)
 #define EQUIP_SPELLS  (1<<2)
 #define EQUIP_ITEMS   (1<<3)
 #define EQUIP_SPECIAL (1<<4)
 #define EQUIP_ALL     (0xFF)
-    void equip_unit_mask(struct unit *u, const struct equipment *eq,
-        int mask);
     void equip_items(struct item **items, const struct equipment *eq);
+    void equip_unit_set(struct unit *u, const struct equipment *eq, int mask);
+    bool equip_unit_mask(struct unit *u, const char *eqname, int mask);
+    bool equip_unit(struct unit *u, const char *eqname);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/equipment.test.c b/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
index 1a1bbfdf1..c09945865 100644
--- a/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "magic.h"
 
+#include <kernel/callbacks.h>
 #include <kernel/equipment.h>
 #include <kernel/item.h>
 #include <kernel/unit.h>
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ static void test_equipment(CuTest * tc)
     equipment_addspell(eq, sp->sname, 1);
 
     u = test_create_unit(test_create_faction(NULL), test_create_region(0, 0, NULL));
-    equip_unit_mask(u, eq, EQUIP_ALL);
+    equip_unit_set(u, eq, EQUIP_ALL);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, i_get(u->items, it_horses));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 5, get_level(u, SK_MAGIC));
 
@@ -69,10 +70,35 @@ static void test_get_equipment(CuTest * tc)
     test_teardown();
 }
 
+static bool equip_test(unit *u, const char *name, int mask) {
+    if (mask & EQUIP_ITEMS) {
+        i_change(&u->items, it_find("horse"), 1);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+static void test_equipment_callback(CuTest *tc) {
+    unit *u;
+    item_type *itype;
+    test_setup();
+    itype = test_create_horse();
+    u = test_create_unit(test_create_faction(NULL), test_create_plain(0, 0));
+    CuAssertTrue(tc, !equip_unit_mask(u, "horse", EQUIP_ITEMS));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, u->items);
+    callbacks.equip_unit = equip_test;
+    CuAssertTrue(tc, equip_unit(u, "horse"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, i_get(u->items, itype));
+    CuAssertTrue(tc, !equip_unit_mask(u, "horse", EQUIP_SPELLS));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, i_get(u->items, itype));
+    test_teardown();
+}
+
 CuSuite *get_equipment_suite(void)
 {
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_equipment);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_get_equipment);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_equipment_callback);
     return suite;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 858cd7040..c1c8010d1 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -1349,7 +1349,7 @@ static void fix_familiars(void) {
                             log_error("%s seems to be a familiar with no spells.",
                                 unitname(u));
                             /* magical familiar, no spells */
-                            equip_unit_mask(u, eq, EQUIP_SPELLS);
+                            equip_unit_set(u, eq, EQUIP_SPELLS);
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/magic.c b/src/magic.c
index 1b41b87af..1f1ec9c26 100644
--- a/src/magic.c
+++ b/src/magic.c
@@ -2181,18 +2181,13 @@ void remove_familiar(unit * mage)
 void create_newfamiliar(unit * mage, unit * fam)
 {
     /* skills and spells: */
-    const struct equipment *eq;
     char eqname[64];
     const race *rc = u_race(fam);
 
     set_familiar(mage, fam);
 
     snprintf(eqname, sizeof(eqname), "fam_%s", rc->_name);
-    eq = get_equipment(eqname);
-    if (eq != NULL) {
-        equip_unit(fam, eq);
-    }
-    else {
+    if (!equip_unit(fam, eqname)) {
         log_info("could not perform initialization for familiar %s.\n", rc->_name);
     }
     /* TODO: Diese Attribute beim Tod des Familiars entfernen: */
diff --git a/src/monsters.c b/src/monsters.c
index 9d113c0e9..db70bebfc 100644
--- a/src/monsters.c
+++ b/src/monsters.c
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ static void recruit_dracoids(unit * dragon, int size)
 
     name_unit(un);
     change_money(dragon, -un->number * 50);
-    equip_unit(un, get_equipment("new_dracoid"));
+    equip_unit(un, "new_dracoid");
 
     unit_setstatus(un, ST_FIGHT);
     for (weapon = un->items; weapon; weapon = weapon->next) {
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ static int nrand(int start, int sub)
 unit *spawn_seaserpent(region *r, faction *f) {
     unit *u = create_unit(r, f, 1, get_race(RC_SEASERPENT), 0, NULL, NULL);
     fset(u, UFL_ISNEW | UFL_MOVED);
-    equip_unit(u, get_equipment("seed_seaserpent"));
+    equip_unit(u, "seed_seaserpent");
     return u;
 }
 
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ void spawn_dragons(void)
                 u = create_unit(r, monsters, nrand(30, 20) + 1, get_race(RC_DRAGON), 0, NULL, NULL);
             }
             fset(u, UFL_ISNEW | UFL_MOVED);
-            equip_unit(u, get_equipment("seed_dragon"));
+            equip_unit(u, "seed_dragon");
 
             log_debug("spawning %d %s in %s.\n", u->number,
                 LOC(default_locale,
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ void spawn_undead(void)
             fset(u, UFL_ISNEW | UFL_MOVED);
             if ((rc == get_race(RC_SKELETON) || rc == get_race(RC_ZOMBIE))
                 && rng_int() % 10 < 4) {
-                equip_unit(u, get_equipment("rising_undead"));
+                equip_unit(u, "rising_undead");
             }
 
             for (i = 0; i < MAXSKILLS; i++) {
diff --git a/src/randenc.c b/src/randenc.c
index 9630d6e85..709702513 100644
--- a/src/randenc.c
+++ b/src/randenc.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ static void get_villagers(region * r, unit * u)
         u);
     leave(newunit, true);
     fset(newunit, UFL_ISNEW | UFL_MOVED);
-    equip_unit(newunit, get_equipment("rand_villagers"));
+    equip_unit(newunit, "rand_villagers");
 }
 
 static void get_allies(region * r, unit * u)
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ static void get_allies(region * r, unit * u)
     newunit =
         create_unit(r, u->faction, number, u->faction->race, 0,
         LOC(u->faction->locale, name), u);
-    equip_unit(newunit, get_equipment(equip));
+    equip_unit(newunit, equip);
 
     u_setfaction(newunit, u->faction);
     set_racename(&newunit->attribs, get_racename(u->attribs));
diff --git a/src/teleport.c b/src/teleport.c
index 439b44955..36634c5cd 100644
--- a/src/teleport.c
+++ b/src/teleport.c
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void spawn_braineaters(float chance)
         if (next-- == 0) {
             u = create_unit(r, f, 1 + rng_int() % 10 + rng_int() % 10,
                 rc_brain, 0, NULL, NULL);
-            equip_unit(u, get_equipment("seed_braineater"));
+            equip_unit(u, "seed_braineater");
 
             next = rng_int() % (int)(chance * 100);
         }
diff --git a/src/xmlreader.c b/src/xmlreader.c
index fe6f18e1f..5b6f7d8c1 100644
--- a/src/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/xmlreader.c
@@ -875,8 +875,7 @@ static void add_callbacks(equipment * eq, xmlNodeSetPtr nsetItems)
             if (propValue != NULL) {
                 fun = get_function((const char *)propValue);
                 if (fun) {
-                    equipment_setcallback(eq, (void(*)(const struct equipment *,
-                    struct unit *))fun);
+                    equipment_setcallback(eq, (equip_callback_fun)fun);
                 }
                 xmlFree(propValue);
             }