diff --git a/src/kernel/item.c b/src/kernel/item.c
index aa975fb8e..e484e6c35 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item.c
@@ -588,7 +588,9 @@ struct order *ord)
             use +=
             use_pooled(s, item2resource(itype), GET_RESERVE | GET_POOLED_SLACK,
             n - use);
-        rsetmoney(s->region, rmoney(s->region) + use);
+        if (s->region->land) {
+            rsetmoney(s->region, rmoney(s->region) + use);
+        }
         return 0;
     }
     return -1;                    /* use the mechanism */
diff --git a/src/kernel/region.c b/src/kernel/region.c
index aa4c86425..ed56851ee 100644
--- a/src/kernel/region.c
+++ b/src/kernel/region.c
@@ -603,8 +603,7 @@ void rsetpeasants(region * r, int value)
     if (r->land) {
         assert(value >= 0);
         r->land->peasants = value;
-    } else
-        assert(value == 0);
+    }
 }
 
 int rmoney(const region * r)
@@ -617,8 +616,7 @@ void rsethorses(const region * r, int value)
     if (r->land) {
         assert(value >= 0);
         r->land->horses = value;
-    } else
-        assert(value == 0);
+    }
 }
 
 int rhorses(const region * r)
@@ -631,8 +629,7 @@ void rsetmoney(region * r, int value)
     if (r->land) {
         assert(value >= 0);
         r->land->money = value;
-    } else
-        assert(value == 0);
+    }
 }
 
 int rherbs(const struct region *r)
@@ -645,8 +642,7 @@ void rsetherbs(const struct region *r, int value)
     if (r->land) {
         assert(value >= 0);
         r->land->herbs = (short)(value);
-    } else
-        assert(value == 0);
+    }
 }