diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index ae5be2c77..dc7e6148b 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -426,6 +426,59 @@ static int recruit_cost(const faction * f, const race * rc)
     return -1;
 }
 
+message *can_recruit(unit *u, const race *rc, order *ord, int now)
+{
+    region *r = u->region;
+
+    /* this is a very special case because the recruiting unit may be empty
+    * at this point and we have to look at the creating unit instead. This
+    * is done in cansee, which is called indirectly by is_guarded(). */
+    if (is_guarded(r, u)) {
+        return msg_error(u, ord, 70);
+    }
+
+    if (rc == get_race(RC_INSECT)) {
+        gamedate date;
+        get_gamedate(now, &date);
+        if (date.season == SEASON_WINTER && r->terrain != newterrain(T_DESERT)) {
+            bool usepotion = false;
+            unit *u2;
+
+            for (u2 = r->units; u2; u2 = u2->next) {
+                if (fval(u2, UFL_WARMTH)) {
+                    usepotion = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            if (!usepotion) {
+                return msg_error(u, ord, 98);
+            }
+        }
+        /* in Gletschern, Eisbergen gar nicht rekrutieren */
+        if (r_insectstalled(r)) {
+            return msg_error(u, ord, 97);
+        }
+    }
+    if (is_cursed(r->attribs, &ct_riotzone)) {
+        /* Die Region befindet sich in Aufruhr */
+        return msg_error(u, ord, 237);
+    }
+
+    if (rc && !playerrace(rc)) {
+        return msg_error(u, ord, 139);
+    }
+
+    if (fval(u, UFL_HERO)) {
+        return msg_feedback(u, ord, "error_herorecruit", "");
+    }
+    if (has_skill(u, SK_MAGIC)) {
+        /* error158;de;{unit} in {region}: '{command}' - Magier arbeiten
+        * grunds�tzlich nur alleine! */
+        return msg_error(u, ord, 158);
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static void recruit(unit * u, struct order *ord, econ_request ** recruitorders)
 {
     region *r = u->region;
@@ -434,6 +487,7 @@ static void recruit(unit * u, struct order *ord, econ_request ** recruitorders)
     const faction *f = u->faction;
     const struct race *rc = u_race(u);
     int n;
+    message *msg;
 
     init_order_depr(ord);
     n = getint();
@@ -456,6 +510,7 @@ static void recruit(unit * u, struct order *ord, econ_request ** recruitorders)
             }
         }
     }
+
     if (recruitcost < 0) {
         rc = u_race(u);
         recruitcost = recruit_cost(f, rc);
@@ -463,95 +518,46 @@ static void recruit(unit * u, struct order *ord, econ_request ** recruitorders)
             recruitcost = INT_MAX;
         }
     }
-    assert(rc);
-    u_setrace(u, rc);
 
-    /* this is a very special case because the recruiting unit may be empty
-     * at this point and we have to look at the creating unit instead. This
-     * is done in cansee, which is called indirectly by is_guarded(). */
-    if (is_guarded(r, u)) {
-        cmistake(u, ord, 70, MSG_EVENT);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (rc == get_race(RC_INSECT)) {
-        gamedate date;
-        get_gamedate(turn, &date);
-        if (date.season == SEASON_WINTER && r->terrain != newterrain(T_DESERT)) {
-            bool usepotion = false;
-            unit *u2;
-
-            for (u2 = r->units; u2; u2 = u2->next)
-                if (fval(u2, UFL_WARMTH)) {
-                    usepotion = true;
-                    break;
-                }
-            if (!usepotion)
-            {
-                cmistake(u, ord, 98, MSG_EVENT);
-                return;
-            }
-        }
-        /* in Gletschern, Eisbergen gar nicht rekrutieren */
-        if (r_insectstalled(r)) {
-            cmistake(u, ord, 97, MSG_EVENT);
-            return;
-        }
-    }
-    if (is_cursed(r->attribs, &ct_riotzone)) {
-        /* Die Region befindet sich in Aufruhr */
-        cmistake(u, ord, 237, MSG_EVENT);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (recruitcost) {
+    if (recruitcost > 0) {
+        int pool;
         plane *pl = getplane(r);
-        if (pl && fval(pl, PFL_NORECRUITS)) {
+
+        if (pl && (pl->flags & PFL_NORECRUITS)) {
             ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, "error_pflnorecruit", ""));
             return;
         }
 
-        if (get_pooled(u, get_resourcetype(R_SILVER), GET_DEFAULT,
-            recruitcost) < recruitcost) {
+        pool = get_pooled(u, get_resourcetype(R_SILVER), GET_DEFAULT, recruitcost * n);
+        if (pool < recruitcost) {
             cmistake(u, ord, 142, MSG_EVENT);
             return;
         }
+        pool /= recruitcost;
+        if (n > pool) n = pool;
     }
-    if (!playerrace(rc)) {
-        cmistake(u, ord, 139, MSG_EVENT);
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if (fval(u, UFL_HERO)) {
-        ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, "error_herorecruit", ""));
-        return;
-    }
-    if (has_skill(u, SK_MAGIC)) {
-        /* error158;de;{unit} in {region}: '{command}' - Magier arbeiten
-         * grunds�tzlich nur alleine! */
-        cmistake(u, ord, 158, MSG_EVENT);
-        return;
-    }
-    if (has_skill(u, SK_ALCHEMY)
-        && count_skill(u->faction, SK_ALCHEMY) + n >
-        skill_limit(u->faction, SK_ALCHEMY)) {
-        cmistake(u, ord, 156, MSG_EVENT);
-        return;
-    }
-    if (recruitcost > 0) {
-        int pooled =
-            get_pooled(u, get_resourcetype(R_SILVER), GET_DEFAULT, recruitcost * n);
-        int pr = pooled / recruitcost;
-        if (n > pr) n = pr;
-    }
-
-    u->wants = n;
 
     if (!n) {
         cmistake(u, ord, 142, MSG_EVENT);
         return;
     }
+    if (has_skill(u, SK_ALCHEMY)) {
+        if (count_skill(u->faction, SK_ALCHEMY) + n > skill_limit(u->faction, SK_ALCHEMY)) {
+            cmistake(u, ord, 156, MSG_EVENT);
+            return;
+        }
+    }
 
+    assert(rc);
+    msg = can_recruit(u, rc, ord, turn);
+    if (msg) {
+        add_message(&u->faction->msgs, msg);
+        msg_release(msg);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    u_setrace(u, rc);
+    u->wants = n;
     o = (econ_request *)calloc(1, sizeof(econ_request));
     o->qty = n;
     o->unit = u;
diff --git a/src/economy.h b/src/economy.h
index 67762b513..9456a4c93 100644
--- a/src/economy.h
+++ b/src/economy.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define MAXNEWBIES								5
 
     struct unit;
+    struct race;
     struct region;
     struct faction;
     struct order;
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ extern "C" {
     void steal_cmd(struct unit * u, struct order *ord, struct econ_request ** stealorders);
     void expandstealing(struct region * r, struct econ_request * stealorders);
 
+    struct message *can_recruit(struct unit *u, const struct race *rc, struct order *ord, int now);
     void add_recruits(struct unit * u, int number, int wanted);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/src/economy.test.c b/src/economy.test.c
index 91d462770..90a4bd260 100644
--- a/src/economy.test.c
+++ b/src/economy.test.c
@@ -480,6 +480,35 @@ static void test_recruit(CuTest *tc) {
     test_teardown();
 }
 
+static void test_recruit_insect(CuTest *tc) {
+    unit *u;
+    faction *f;
+    message * msg;
+
+    test_setup();
+    test_create_calendar();
+    f = test_create_faction(test_create_race("insect"));
+    u = test_create_unit(f, test_create_region(0, 0, NULL));
+    u->thisorder = create_order(K_RECRUIT, f->locale, "%d", 1);
+
+    msg = can_recruit(u, f->race, u->thisorder, 1083); /* Autumn */
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg);
+
+    msg = can_recruit(u, f->race, u->thisorder, 1084); /* Insects, Winter */
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, msg);
+    msg_release(msg);
+
+    u->flags |= UFL_WARMTH;
+    msg = can_recruit(u, f->race, u->thisorder, 1084); /* Insects, potion, Winter */
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg);
+
+    u->flags = 0;
+    msg = can_recruit(u, NULL, u->thisorder, 1084); /* Other races, Winter */
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg);
+
+    test_teardown();
+}
+
 static void test_income(CuTest *tc)
 {
     race *rc;
@@ -764,6 +793,7 @@ CuSuite *get_economy_suite(void)
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_trade_insect);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_maintain_buildings);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_recruit);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_recruit_insect);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_loot);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_expand_production);
     return suite;
diff --git a/src/reports.test.c b/src/reports.test.c
index 703abc232..65b5b06b0 100644
--- a/src/reports.test.c
+++ b/src/reports.test.c
@@ -785,27 +785,12 @@ static void test_stealth_modifier(CuTest *tc) {
     test_teardown();
 }
 
-static void setup_calendar(void) {
-    months_per_year = 9;
-    month_season = malloc(sizeof(int) * months_per_year);
-    month_season[0] = SEASON_SUMMER;
-    month_season[1] = SEASON_AUTUMN;
-    month_season[2] = SEASON_AUTUMN;
-    month_season[3] = SEASON_WINTER;
-    month_season[4] = SEASON_WINTER;
-    month_season[5] = SEASON_WINTER;
-    month_season[6] = SEASON_SPRING;
-    month_season[7] = SEASON_SPRING;
-    month_season[8] = SEASON_SUMMER;
-}
-
 static void test_insect_warnings(CuTest *tc) {
     faction *f;
     gamedate gd;
 
     test_setup();
-    setup_calendar();
-    config_set_int("game.start", 184);
+    test_create_calendar();
     test_inject_messagetypes();
     f = test_create_faction(test_create_race("insect"));
 
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index 09f533a9f..4ee38d195 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -260,6 +260,21 @@ static void test_reset(void) {
     }
 }
 
+void test_create_calendar(void) {
+    config_set_int("game.start", 184);
+    months_per_year = 9;
+    month_season = malloc(sizeof(int) * months_per_year);
+    month_season[0] = SEASON_SUMMER;
+    month_season[1] = SEASON_AUTUMN;
+    month_season[2] = SEASON_AUTUMN;
+    month_season[3] = SEASON_WINTER;
+    month_season[4] = SEASON_WINTER;
+    month_season[5] = SEASON_WINTER;
+    month_season[6] = SEASON_SPRING;
+    month_season[7] = SEASON_SPRING;
+    month_season[8] = SEASON_SUMMER;
+}
+
 void test_inject_messagetypes(void)
 {
     message_handle_missing(MESSAGE_MISSING_REPLACE);
diff --git a/src/tests.h b/src/tests.h
index dd8bed3c8..441db9e16 100644
--- a/src/tests.h
+++ b/src/tests.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ extern "C" {
     struct log_t * test_log_start(int flags, struct strlist **slist);
     void test_log_stop(struct log_t *log, struct strlist *slist);
 
+    void test_create_calendar(void);
     struct locale * test_create_locale(void);
     struct terrain_type * test_create_terrain(const char * name, int flags);
     struct race *test_create_race(const char *name);