diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index b0efdf912..6c3f8b1ad 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -3386,6 +3386,7 @@ use(void)
 					const item_type * itype;
 					if (n==0) {
 						n = 1;
+					} else {
 						t = getstrtoken();
 					}
 					itype = finditemtype(t, u->faction->locale);