diff --git a/src/lib/commands/coll.c b/src/lib/commands/coll.c
index e2d648cb..d9af0e1c 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/coll.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/coll.c
@@ -106,8 +106,6 @@ coll(void)
 	pr("That is more than is owed!\n");
 	return RET_FAIL;
     }
-    if (sect.sct_type == SCT_CAPIT || sect.sct_type == SCT_MOUNT)
-	caploss(&sect, sect.sct_own, "that was %s's capital!\n");
     sect.sct_item[I_MILIT] = 1;	/* FIXME now where did this guy come from? */
 
 /* Consider modifying takeover to take a "no che" argument and
@@ -123,6 +121,8 @@ coll(void)
     sect.sct_dist_x = sect.sct_x;
     sect.sct_dist_y = sect.sct_y;
 
+    if (sect.sct_type == SCT_CAPIT || sect.sct_type == SCT_MOUNT)
+	caploss(&sect, loan.l_lonee, "that was %s's capital!\n");
     putsect(&sect);
     nreport(player->cnum, N_SEIZE_SECT, loan.l_lonee, 1);
     owed = loan_owed(&loan, time(&now));
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/caploss.c b/src/lib/subs/caploss.c
index 6cb50ad3..c3eca1a8 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/caploss.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/caploss.c
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ caploss(struct sctstr *sp, natid coun, char *msg)
     struct comstr comm;
     long lose;
     long gain;
-    int loan_num = 0;
-    int comm_num = 0;
+    char *verb;
+    int loan_num, comm_num;
+
+    CANT_HAPPEN(sp->sct_own && sp->sct_own != player->cnum);
 
     natp = getnatp(coun);
     if (natp->nat_stat != STAT_ACTIVE)
@@ -71,18 +73,20 @@ caploss(struct sctstr *sp, natid coun, char *msg)
 	lose = 3000;
     natp->nat_money -= lose;
     putnat(natp);
-    wu(0, coun, "* %s just sacked your capital! *\n", cname(player->cnum));
-
-    if (gain >= 0) {
+    if (gain >= 0 && sp->sct_own) {
 	gain = (0.2 + 0.8 * (sp->sct_effic / 100.0)) * gain;
 	player->dolcost -= gain;
     } else
 	gain = 0;
+    verb = sp->sct_own ? "sacked" : "obliterated";
+    wu(0, coun, "* %s just %s your capital! *\n",
+       cname(player->cnum), verb);
     wu(0, coun, "You lost $%ld and they gained $%ld\n", lose, gain);
     wu(0, coun, "You need to use 'capital' to activate a new capital.\n");
-    wu(0, 0, "%s just took %s's capital and gained $%d\n",
-       cname(player->cnum), cname(coun), -(int)(player->dolcost));
-    if (opt_LOANS) {
+    wu(0, 0, "%s just %s %s's capital and gained $%ld\n",
+       cname(player->cnum), verb, cname(coun), gain);
+
+    if (opt_LOANS && sp->sct_own) {
 	for (loan_num = 0; getloan(loan_num, &loan); loan_num++) {
 	    if (loan.l_status == LS_SIGNED && loan.l_loner == coun) {
 		loan.l_loner = player->cnum;
@@ -91,7 +95,7 @@ caploss(struct sctstr *sp, natid coun, char *msg)
 	    }
 	}
     }
-    if (opt_MARKET) {
+    if (opt_MARKET && sp->sct_own) {
 	for (comm_num = 0; getcomm(comm_num, &comm); comm_num++) {
 	    if (comm.com_owner == 0)
 		continue;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/sect.c b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
index 541b9b9b..5674c799 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/sect.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ static int
 checksect(struct sctstr *sp)
 {
     int mil, civs, loyalcivs;
+    natid own;
 
     item_prewrite(sp->sct_item);
 
@@ -113,9 +114,7 @@ checksect(struct sctstr *sp)
     if (sp->sct_own && !loyalcivs && !(sp->sct_flags & MOVE_IN_PROGRESS)) {
 	if (!mil && !has_units(sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y, sp->sct_own, 0)) {
 	    /* more cruft! */
-	    if (sp->sct_type == SCT_CAPIT || sp->sct_type == SCT_MOUNT)
-		caploss(sp, sp->sct_own, "");
-
+	    own = sp->sct_own;
 	    if (sp->sct_oldown == sp->sct_own) {
 		makelost(EF_SECTOR, sp->sct_own, 0, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
 		sp->sct_own = 0;
@@ -123,6 +122,8 @@ checksect(struct sctstr *sp)
 	    } else
 		takeover(sp, sp->sct_oldown);
 	    sp->sct_mobil = 0;
+	    if (sp->sct_type == SCT_CAPIT || sp->sct_type == SCT_MOUNT)
+		caploss(sp, own, "");
 	}
     }
     return 1;