diff --git a/src/lib/commands/laun.c b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
index 852b9a61..20eb31bc 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/laun.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
@@ -109,8 +109,6 @@ laun(void)
 	    if (ship.shp_own != player->cnum && rel != ALLIED) {
 		pr("%s: you or an ally do not own ship #%d\n",
 		   prplane(&plane), ship.shp_uid);
-		plane.pln_effic = 0;
-		putplane(plane.pln_uid, &plane);
 		continue;
 	    }
 	    if (mchr[(int)ship.shp_type].m_flags & M_SUB)