diff --git a/include/sect.h b/include/sect.h
index 6cfcef69..5750796d 100644
--- a/include/sect.h
+++ b/include/sect.h
@@ -184,10 +184,12 @@ extern struct dchrstr bigcity_dchr;
 /* Sector flags */
 #define MOVE_IN_PROGRESS	bit(0)	/* move in progress */
 
-/* maximum number of che, must fit into struct sctstr member sct_che */
-#define CHE_MAX 255
+/* maximum amount of an item, must fit into sct_item[], sct_del[], sct_dist */
+#define ITEM_MAX 9999
 /* maximum number of mines, must fit into struct sctstr member sct_mines */
 #define MINES_MAX 65535
+/* maximum number of che, must fit into struct sctstr member sct_che */
+#define CHE_MAX 255
 /* maximum fallout, must fit into struct sctstr member sct_fallout */
 #define FALLOUT_MAX 9999
 
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/buy.c b/src/lib/commands/buy.c
index 8feb50aa..ff9593ab 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/buy.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/buy.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ check_market(void)
 	    wu(0, comm.com_owner,
 	       "Sale #%d fell through.  Goods remain on the market.\n", n);
 	    comm.com_maxbidder = comm.com_owner;
-	} else if (m + comm.com_amount > 32767) {
+	} else if (m + comm.com_amount > ITEM_MAX) {
 	    wu(0, comm.com_maxbidder,
 	       "Warehouse full,  sale #%d fell though.\n", n);
 	    wu(0, comm.com_owner,
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/expl.c b/src/lib/commands/expl.c
index 809db976..a4dc589c 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/expl.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/expl.c
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ explore(void)
     start.sct_flags &= ~MOVE_IN_PROGRESS;
     putsect(&start);
     amt_dst = sect.sct_item[vtype];
-    if (32767 - amt_dst < amount) {
-	amount = 32767 - amt_dst;
+    if (amount > ITEM_MAX - amt_dst) {
+	amount = ITEM_MAX - amt_dst;
 	pr("Only %d can be left there.\n", amount);
 	if (amount <= 0)
 	    getsect(start.sct_x, start.sct_y, &sect);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/give.c b/src/lib/commands/give.c
index b0841a8a..066f73e8 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/give.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/give.c
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ give(void)
 	n = sect.sct_item[ip->i_vtype];
 	if (amt < 0 && -amt > n) {
 	    m = 0;
-	} else if (amt > 0 && amt + n > 9990) {
-	    m = 9990;
+	} else if (amt > 0 && amt + n > ITEM_MAX) {
+	    m = ITEM_MAX;
 	} else
 	    m = n + amt;
 	sect.sct_item[ip->i_vtype] = m;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/load.c b/src/lib/commands/load.c
index 792b908d..1668e1a3 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/load.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/load.c
@@ -767,8 +767,8 @@ load_comm_ship(struct sctstr *sectp, struct shpstr *sp,
 	move_amt = -ship_amt;
     if (move_amt > sect_amt)
 	move_amt = sect_amt;
-    if (move_amt < sect_amt - 9999)
-	move_amt = sect_amt - 9999;
+    if (move_amt < sect_amt - ITEM_MAX)
+	move_amt = sect_amt - ITEM_MAX;
     if (!move_amt)
 	return RET_OK;
     if (sectp->sct_oldown != player->cnum && item == V_CIVIL) {
@@ -970,8 +970,8 @@ load_comm_land(struct sctstr *sectp, struct lndstr *lp,
 	move_amt = -land_amt;
     if (move_amt > sect_amt)
 	move_amt = sect_amt;
-    if (move_amt < sect_amt - 9999)
-	move_amt = sect_amt - 9999;
+    if (move_amt < sect_amt - ITEM_MAX)
+	move_amt = sect_amt - ITEM_MAX;
     if (!move_amt)
 	return RET_OK;
     if (sectp->sct_own != player->cnum && move_amt > 0) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/move.c b/src/lib/commands/move.c
index 47f349b1..60c44c11 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/move.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/move.c
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ move(void)
     }
 
     amt_dst = sect.sct_item[vtype];
-    if (32767 - amt_dst < amount) {
-	amount = 32767 - amt_dst;
+    if (amount > ITEM_MAX - amt_dst) {
+	amount = ITEM_MAX - amt_dst;
 	pr("Only room for %d, the rest were lost.\n", amount);
     }
     if (istest)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/rese.c b/src/lib/commands/rese.c
index 5207f6c4..b76ae7b7 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/rese.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/rese.c
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ rese(void)
 	sect.sct_y = comm.sell_y;
 	m = sect.sct_item[ix->i_vtype];
 	m = m + comm.com_amount;
-	if (m > 9999)
-	    m = 9999;
+	if (m > ITEM_MAX)
+	    m = ITEM_MAX;
 	sect.sct_item[ix->i_vtype] = m;
 	putsect(&sect);
 	comm.com_owner = 0;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/thre.c b/src/lib/commands/thre.c
index 429fb25e..5def538f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/thre.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/thre.c
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ thre(void)
 	if (*p == '\0' || *p == '-')
 	    continue;
 	thresh = atoi(p);
-	if (thresh > 10000)
-	    thresh = 10000;
+	if (thresh > ITEM_MAX)
+	    thresh = ITEM_MAX;
 	if ((val > 0) && (val == thresh)) {
 	    pr("%s threshold unchanged (left at %d)\n",
 	       xyas(nstr.x, nstr.y, player->cnum), val);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
index 38b6f56d..a6fc77e6 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ pln_dropoff(struct emp_qelem *list, struct ichrstr *ip, coord tx, coord ty,
 	    return;
 	}
 	there = sectp->sct_item[ip->i_vtype];
-	max = 32767;
+	max = ITEM_MAX;
     } else {
 	sp = ptr;
 	there = sp->shp_item[ip->i_vtype];
diff --git a/src/lib/update/deliver.c b/src/lib/update/deliver.c
index efb22b31..6c57a0c8 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/deliver.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/deliver.c
@@ -101,10 +101,9 @@ deliver(register struct sctstr *from, struct ichrstr *ip, int dir,
 	    return 0;
     }
     amt_dst = to->sct_item[vtype];
-    if (amt_moved + amt_dst > 9990) {
+    if (amt_moved > ITEM_MAX - amt_dst) {
 	/* delivery backlog */
-	if ((amt_moved = 9990 - amt_dst) <= 0)
-	    return 0;
+	amt_moved = ITEM_MAX - amt_dst;
     }
     to->sct_item[vtype] = amt_moved + amt_dst;
     /* deliver the plague too! */
diff --git a/src/lib/update/nav_util.c b/src/lib/update/nav_util.c
index d3379a07..dfcbc730 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/nav_util.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/nav_util.c
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ check_nav(struct sctstr *sect)
 int
 load_it(register struct shpstr *sp, register struct sctstr *psect, int i)
 {
-    int comm, shipown, amount, ship_amt, sect_amt,
-	abs_max, max_amt, transfer;
+    int comm, shipown, amount, ship_amt, sect_amt;
+    int abs_max, max_amt, transfer;
     s_char item;
     struct mchrstr *vship;
 
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ load_it(register struct shpstr *sp, register struct sctstr *psect, int i)
     if (comm == V_CIVIL || comm == V_MILIT)
 	sect_amt--;		/* leave 1 civ or mil to hold the sector. */
     vship = &mchr[(int)sp->shp_type];
-    abs_max = max_amt = (vl_find(comm, vship->m_vtype,
-				 vship->m_vamt, (int)vship->m_nv));
+    abs_max = max_amt = vl_find(comm, vship->m_vtype,
+				vship->m_vamt, (int)vship->m_nv);
 
     if (!abs_max)
 	return 0;		/* can't load the ship, skip to the end. */
@@ -168,7 +168,6 @@ unload_it(register struct shpstr *sp)
     int comm;
     int sect_amt;
     int ship_amt;
-    int abs_max = 99999;	/* max amount a sector can hold. */
     int max_amt;
     int level;
 
@@ -204,11 +203,7 @@ unload_it(register struct shpstr *sp)
 	if (comm == V_CIVIL)
 	    ship_amt--;		/* This leaves 1 civs on board the ship */
 
-	if (sect_amt >= abs_max)
-	    continue;		/* The sector is full. */
-
-	max_amt = min(ship_amt, abs_max - sect_amt);
-
+	max_amt = min(ship_amt, ITEM_MAX - sect_amt);
 	if (max_amt <= 0)
 	    continue;