diff --git a/src/lib/commands/lten.c b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
index f5df960d..3cbc4ada 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/lten.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ ltend(void)
 	ontender = tender.shp_item[ip->i_uid];
 	if (ontender == 0 && amt > 0) {
 	    pr("No %s on %s\n", ip->i_name, prship(&tender));
-	    return RET_FAIL;
+	    continue;
 	}
 	vbase = &mchr[(int)tender.shp_type];
 	maxtender = vbase->m_item[ip->i_uid];
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/tend.c b/src/lib/commands/tend.c
index 25a054dc..deec23a4 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/tend.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/tend.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ tend(void)
 	ontender = tender.shp_item[ip->i_uid];
 	if (ontender == 0 && amt > 0) {
 	    pr("No %s on %s\n", ip->i_name, prship(&tender));
-	    return RET_FAIL;
+	    continue;
 	}
 	vbase = &mchr[(int)tender.shp_type];
 	maxtender = vbase->m_item[ip->i_uid];
diff --git a/tests/load-tend/03-tend-1 b/tests/load-tend/03-tend-1
index c51b8d81..a9f83e25 100644
--- a/tests/load-tend/03-tend-1
+++ b/tests/load-tend/03-tend-1
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ tend h 150 -1 170/171
 || tend something the tender doesn't have
 tend h 150/152 1 151
 tend h 151 -1 150/152
-| odd: first command fails, second doesn't
 |
 || tend something the target can't hold
 tend u 150 1 170/171
diff --git a/tests/load-tend/journal.log b/tests/load-tend/journal.log
index c5f61807..b051b0e2 100644
--- a/tests/load-tend/journal.log
+++ b/tests/load-tend/journal.log
@@ -2184,7 +2184,7 @@
     Play#1 input tend h 170/171 1 150
     Play#1 command tend
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on frg  frigate (#170)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 1 command failed
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on sb   submarine (#171)
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 406
     Play#1 input tend h 150 -1 170/171
     Play#1 command tend
@@ -2195,7 +2195,7 @@
     Play#1 input tend h 150/152 1 151
     Play#1 command tend
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on cs   cargo ship (#150)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 1 command failed
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on cs   cargo ship (#152)
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 404
     Play#1 input tend h 151 -1 150/152
     Play#1 command tend
@@ -2532,7 +2532,7 @@
     Play#1 input ltend i 200/201 1 350/352
     Play#1 command ltend
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 No iron ore on cs   cargo ship (#200)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 1 command failed
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 No iron ore on cs   cargo ship (#201)
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 370
     Play#1 input ltend c 200/201 1 350/352
     Play#1 command ltend
@@ -2544,7 +2544,7 @@
     Play#1 input ltend h 200/201 1 350/352
     Play#1 command ltend
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on cs   cargo ship (#200)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 1 command failed
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 No heavy products on cs   cargo ship (#201)
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 368
     Play#1 input ltend f 200/201 0 350/351//352
     Play#1 command ltend