diff --git a/src/lib/commands/lten.c b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
index 03eac035..86465262 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/lten.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ ltend(void)
     int transfer;
     int total;
     char *p;
+    char prompt[512];
     char buf[1024];
 
     if (!(ip = whatitem(player->argp[1], "Transfer what commodity? ")))
@@ -76,12 +77,19 @@ ltend(void)
 		pr("You don't own ship #%d!\n", tender.shp_uid);
 	    continue;
 	}
-	if (!(p = getstarg(player->argp[3], "Amount to transfer? ", buf)))
+	sprintf(prompt, "Number of %s to tend from %s? ",
+		ip->i_name, prship(&tender));
+	if (!(p = getstarg(player->argp[3], prompt, buf)))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
+	if (!*p)
+	    continue;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
-	if ((amt = atoi(p)) == 0)
-	    break;
+	amt = atoi(p);
+	if (!amt) {
+	    pr("Amount must be non-zero!\n");
+	    return RET_SYN;
+	}
 	ontender = tender.shp_item[ip->i_uid];
 	if (ontender == 0 && amt > 0) {
 	    pr("No %s on %s\n", ip->i_name, prship(&tender));
diff --git a/tests/load-tend/05-ltend-1 b/tests/load-tend/05-ltend-1
index bc0bb0f7..d9129700 100644
--- a/tests/load-tend/05-ltend-1
+++ b/tests/load-tend/05-ltend-1
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ltend c 200/201 1 350/352
 ltend h 200/201 1 350/352
 | zero amount:
 ltend f 200/201 0 350/351//352
-| usability: does nothing silently
+__cmd added 0 -1 0
 | more than the ship has
 ltend s 200/201 5 350/351/352
 | more than the land can hold
diff --git a/tests/load-tend/journal.log b/tests/load-tend/journal.log
index 71733323..3848c358 100644
--- a/tests/load-tend/journal.log
+++ b/tests/load-tend/journal.log
@@ -2572,6 +2572,11 @@
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 368
     Play#1 input ltend f 200/201 0 350/351//352
     Play#1 command ltend
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 Amount must be non-zero!
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 Usage: ltend <COMM> <tender-SHIPS> <NUM> <UNITS>
+    Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 368
+    Play#1 input __cmd added 0 -1 0
+    Play#1 command __cmd
     Play#1 output Play#1 6 0 367
     Play#1 input ltend s 200/201 5 350/351/352
     Play#1 command ltend
@@ -2647,12 +2652,12 @@
     Play#1 input f
     Play#1 output Play#1 4 Tender(s)?
     Play#1 input 200/201
-    Play#1 output Play#1 4 Amount to transfer?
+    Play#1 output Play#1 4 Number of food to tend from cs   cargo ship (#200)?
     Play#1 input 1
     Play#1 output Play#1 4 Units to be tended?
     Play#1 input 350/351
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 2 total food transferred off of cs   cargo ship (#200)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 4 Amount to transfer?
+    Play#1 output Play#1 4 Number of food to tend from cs   cargo ship (#201)?
     Play#1 input -1
     Play#1 output Play#1 4 Units to be tended?
     Play#1 input 350