diff --git a/scripts/eressea/xmas2004.lua b/scripts/eressea/xmas2004.lua
index 9b32d7a33..79d2b0665 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/xmas2004.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/xmas2004.lua
@@ -1,18 +1,11 @@
 function use_snowman(u, amount)
-	local have = u:get_item("snowman")
-	if have<amount then
-		amount = have
-	end
-	if amount>0 and u.region.terrain == "glacier" then
-		local man = unit.create(u.faction, u.region)
-		man.race = "snowman"
-		man.number = amount
-		if u:add_item("snowman", -amount)~= nil then
-			return -1
-		end
-		return 0
-	end
-	return -4
+    if amount>0 and u.region.terrain == "glacier" then
+        local man = unit.create(u.faction, u.region)
+        man.race = "snowman"
+        man.number = amount
+        return amount
+    end
+    return -4
 end
 
 local self = {}
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/xmas2005.lua b/scripts/eressea/xmas2005.lua
index df774cfef..9bc0ac723 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/xmas2005.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/xmas2005.lua
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ function use_stardust(u, amount)
   u.region:set_resource("peasant", p)
   local msg = usepotion_message(u, "stardust")
   msg:send_region(u.region)
-  u:use_pooled("stardust", amount)
-  return 0
+  return amount
 end
 
 local self = {}
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/xmas2006.lua b/scripts/eressea/xmas2006.lua
index fb1eaf476..85a8b3d98 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/xmas2006.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/xmas2006.lua
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 function use_xmastree(u, amount)
   u.region:set_key("xm06", true)
-  u:use_pooled("xmastree", amount)
   local msg = message.create("usepotion")
   msg:set_unit("unit", u)
   msg:set_resource("potion", "xmastree")
   msg:send_region(u.region)
-  return 0
+  return amount
 end
 
 local self = {}
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/xmas2009.lua b/scripts/eressea/xmas2009.lua
index 90fdc6e64..64bcd7762 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/xmas2009.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/xmas2009.lua
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 function use_xmastree(u, amount)
     if u.region.herb~=nil then
+        -- TODO: else?
         local trees = u.region:get_resource("tree")
         u.region:set_resource("tree", 10+trees)
-        u:use_pooled("xmastree", amount)
         local msg = message.create("usepotion")
         msg:set_unit("unit", u)
         msg:set_resource("potion", "xmastree")
         msg:send_region(u.region)
-        return 0
+        return amount
     end
+    return 0
 end
 
 local xmas = {}
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 9e1a7bfca..34cb0987b 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ set(TESTS_SRC
   ${ATTRIBUTES_TESTS}
   ${UTIL_TESTS}
   ${KERNEL_TESTS}
+  ${ITEMS_TESTS}
 )
 
 add_executable(test_eressea ${TESTS_SRC})
diff --git a/src/buildno.h b/src/buildno.h
index 2d9565015..0ffd496d9 100644
--- a/src/buildno.h
+++ b/src/buildno.h
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 #define VERSION_MAJOR 3
 #define VERSION_MINOR 5
-#define VERSION_BUILD 0
+#define VERSION_BUILD 1
diff --git a/src/items/CMakeLists.txt b/src/items/CMakeLists.txt
index 5046403d1..9ab324e77 100644
--- a/src/items/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/items/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 PROJECT(items C)
+
+SET(_TEST_FILES
+xerewards.test.c
+)
+
 SET(_FILES
 artrewards.c
 demonseye.c
@@ -14,4 +19,8 @@ FOREACH(_FILE ${_FILES})
 ENDFOREACH(_FILE)
 SET(ITEMS_SRC ${_SOURCES} PARENT_SCOPE)
     
-    
\ No newline at end of file
+FOREACH(_FILE ${_TEST_FILES})
+    LIST(APPEND _TESTS ${PROJECT_NAME}/${_FILE})
+ENDFOREACH(_FILE)
+SET(ITEMS_TESTS ${_TESTS} PARENT_SCOPE)
+    
diff --git a/src/items/xerewards.c b/src/items/xerewards.c
index b20fb19bb..1868d3a67 100644
--- a/src/items/xerewards.c
+++ b/src/items/xerewards.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
-static int
+int
 use_skillpotion(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype, int amount,
 struct order *ord)
 {
@@ -59,12 +59,10 @@ struct order *ord)
         }
     }
     ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("skillpotion_use", "unit", u));
-
-    change_resource(u, itype->rtype, -amount);
-    return 0;
+    return amount;
 }
 
-static int
+int
 use_manacrystal(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype, int amount,
 struct order *ord)
 {
@@ -82,8 +80,7 @@ struct order *ord)
 
     ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("manacrystal_use", "unit aura", u, sp));
 
-    change_resource(u, itype->rtype, -amount);
-    return 0;
+    return amount;
 }
 
 void register_xerewards(void)
diff --git a/src/items/xerewards.h b/src/items/xerewards.h
index 36b6ca18d..189032891 100644
--- a/src/items/xerewards.h
+++ b/src/items/xerewards.h
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-  extern void register_xerewards(void);
+    struct unit;
+    struct item_type;
+    struct order;
+    void register_xerewards(void);
+    int use_skillpotion(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype, int amount, struct order *ord);
+    int use_manacrystal(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype, int amount, struct order *ord);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/items/xerewards.test.c b/src/items/xerewards.test.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5ce7716f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/items/xerewards.test.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include <platform.h>
+
+#include "xerewards.h"
+
+#include <kernel/unit.h>
+#include <kernel/item.h>
+#include <kernel/pool.h>
+#include <kernel/region.h>
+
+#include <tests.h>
+#include <CuTest.h>
+
+static void test_manacrystal(CuTest *tc) {
+    test_cleanup();
+    test_create_world();
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
+static void test_skillpotion(CuTest *tc) {
+    unit *u;
+    const struct item_type *itype;
+
+    test_cleanup();
+    test_create_world();
+    u = test_create_unit(test_create_faction(NULL), findregion(0, 0));
+    itype = test_create_itemtype("skillpotion");
+    change_resource(u, itype->rtype, 2);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, use_skillpotion(u, itype, 1, NULL));
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
+CuSuite *get_xerewards_suite(void)
+{
+    CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_manacrystal);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_skillpotion);
+    return suite;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index 00553cde5..1380eb5f5 100755
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -3510,6 +3510,7 @@ use_item(unit * u, const item_type * itype, int amount, struct order *ord)
     i = get_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, amount);
 
     if (amount > i) {
+        /* TODO: message? eg. "not enough %, using only %" */
         amount = i;
     }
     if (amount == 0) {
@@ -3517,10 +3518,15 @@ use_item(unit * u, const item_type * itype, int amount, struct order *ord)
     }
 
     if (target == -1) {
+        int result;
         if (itype->use == NULL) {
             return EUNUSABLE;
         }
-        return itype->use(u, itype, amount, ord);
+        result = itype->use ? itype->use(u, itype, amount, ord) : EUNUSABLE;
+        if (result>0) {
+            use_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, result);
+        }
+        return result;
     }
     else {
         if (itype->useonother == NULL) {
diff --git a/src/test_eressea.c b/src/test_eressea.c
index 9c8cfa8bc..baa70ae2c 100644
--- a/src/test_eressea.c
+++ b/src/test_eressea.c
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ int RunAllTests(void)
   RUN_TESTS(suite, unicode);
   RUN_TESTS(suite, strings);
   RUN_TESTS(suite, rng);
+  /* items */
+  RUN_TESTS(suite, xerewards);
   /* kernel */
   RUN_TESTS(suite, alliance);
   RUN_TESTS(suite, unit);