diff --git a/src/kernel/magic.c b/src/kernel/magic.c
index 5cc8bba0d..b5f7dbb70 100644
--- a/src/kernel/magic.c
+++ b/src/kernel/magic.c
@@ -290,7 +290,11 @@ static int read_mage(attrib * a, void *owner, struct storage *store)
       }
     }
   }
-  mage->spellbook = read_spellbook(store);
+  if (mage->magietyp==M_GRAY) {
+    read_spellbook(&mage->spellbook, store);
+  } else {
+    read_spellbook(0, store);
+  }
   return AT_READ_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 0de9d337c..3f1502478 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -1204,39 +1204,41 @@ static ally **addally(const faction * f, ally ** sfp, int aid, int state)
   return &sf->next;
 }
 
-struct spellbook *read_spellbook(struct storage *store)
+void read_spellbook(spellbook **bookp, struct storage *store)
 {
-  spellbook * book = 0;
   int level;
   for (level=0;;++level) {
-    spell *sp;
+    spell *sp = 0;
     char spname[64];
 
     if (store->version < SPELLNAME_VERSION) {
       int i = store->r_int(store);
       if (i < 0)
         break;
-      sp = find_spellbyid((unsigned int) i);
+      if (bookp) {
+        sp = find_spellbyid((unsigned int) i);
+      }
     } else {
       store->r_tok_buf(store, spname, sizeof(spname));
       if (strcmp(spname, "end") == 0)
         break;
-      sp = find_spell(spname);
-      if (!sp) {
-        log_error("read_spells: could not find spell '%s'\n", spname);
+      if (bookp) {
+        sp = find_spell(spname);
+        if (!sp) {
+          log_error("read_spells: could not find spell '%s'\n", spname);
+        }
       }
     }
     if (store->version >= SPELLBOOK_VERSION) {
       level = store->r_int(store);
     }
     if (sp) {
-      if (!book) {
-        book = create_spellbook(0);
+      if (!*bookp) {
+        *bookp = create_spellbook(0);
       }
-      spellbook_add(book, sp, level);
+      spellbook_add(*bookp, sp, level);
     }
   }
-  return book;
 }
 
 void write_spellbook(const struct spellbook *book, struct storage *store)
@@ -1393,7 +1395,7 @@ faction *readfaction(struct storage * store)
   read_groups(store, f);
   f->spellbook = 0;
   if (store->version >= REGIONOWNER_VERSION) {
-    f->spellbook = read_spellbook(store);
+    read_spellbook(FactionSpells() ? &f->spellbook : 0, store);
   }
   return f;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.h b/src/kernel/save.h
index 41f1c4893..58c7d5356 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.h
+++ b/src/kernel/save.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ extern "C" {
   extern void read_items(struct storage *store, struct item **it);
   extern void write_items(struct storage *store, struct item *it);
 
-  extern struct spellbook *read_spellbook(struct storage *store);
+  extern void read_spellbook(struct spellbook **bookp, struct storage *store);
   extern void write_spellbook(const struct spellbook *book, struct storage *store);
 
   extern void write_unit(struct storage *store, const struct unit *u);
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 22d62b0d1..c87f7449a 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -1957,8 +1957,8 @@ static int parse_races(xmlDocPtr doc)
         attack->data.sp = xml_spell(node, "spell");
         if (attack->data.sp) {
           attack->level = xml_ivalue(node, "level", 0);
-          if (attack->level > 0) {
-            log_error("magical attack '%s' needs a level: %d\n", attack->data.sp->sname, attack->level);
+          if (attack->level <= 0) {
+            log_error("magical attack '%s' for race '%s' needs a level: %d\n", attack->data.sp->sname, rc->_name[0], attack->level);
           }
         }
       }