diff --git a/include/xdump.h b/include/xdump.h
index cae34af7..da3d3780 100644
--- a/include/xdump.h
+++ b/include/xdump.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
  *  xdump.h: Extended dumps
  *
  *  Known contributors to this file:
- *     Markus Armbruster, 2008-2014
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2008-2016
  */
 
 #ifndef XDUMP_H
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ extern void xdcolhdr(struct xdstr *, struct castr[]);
 extern void xdflds(struct xdstr *, struct castr[], void *);
 extern void xdftr(struct xdstr *, int);
 extern int xundump(FILE *, char *, int *, int);
+extern int xundumpable(int);
 extern int xundump_redundant(int, int, void *);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c b/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
index c96d7b0f..041a92f0 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "nsc.h"
 #include "product.h"
+#include "xdump.h"
 
 static void verify_fail(int, int, struct castr *, int, char *, ...)
     ATTRIBUTE((format (printf, 5, 6)));
@@ -74,10 +75,9 @@ verify_ca(int type)
     for (i = 0; ca[i].ca_name; i++) {
 	/*
 	 * Virtual selectors can't be used in xundump, since we lack a
-	 * setter to go with ca_get().  Exception: if EFF_MEM is not
-	 * set, xundump doesn't touch the table.
+	 * setter to go with ca_get().
 	 */
-	if (CANT_HAPPEN((ef_flags(type) & EFF_MEM)
+	if (CANT_HAPPEN(xundumpable(type)
 			&& ca[i].ca_get
 			&& ca[i].ca_dump <= CA_DUMP_CONST))
 	    ca[i].ca_dump = CA_DUMP_ONLY;
diff --git a/src/lib/common/xundump.c b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
index 590fdfe9..b7f8df04 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/xundump.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
@@ -1155,8 +1155,7 @@ xuheader(FILE *fp, int expected_table)
 	return gripe("expected table '%s', not '%s'",
 		     ef_nameof(expected_table), name);
 
-    if (!empfile[type].file
-	|| !ef_cadef(type) || !(ef_flags(type) & EFF_MEM)) {
+    if (!xundumpable(type)) {
 	CANT_HAPPEN(expected_table != EF_BAD);
 	return gripe("table '%s' is not permitted here", name);
     }
@@ -1168,6 +1167,16 @@ xuheader(FILE *fp, int expected_table)
     return type;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Can table @type be xundumped?
+ */
+int
+xundumpable(int type)
+{
+    return empfile[type].file && ef_cadef(type)
+	&& (ef_flags(type) & EFF_MEM);
+}
+
 /*
  * Find fields in this xdump.
  * If reading human-readable syntax, read a field header line from @fp.