diff --git a/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c b/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
index b343951f..cabe59d1 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
@@ -793,7 +793,9 @@ shp_nav_one_sector(struct emp_qelem *list, int dir, natid actor)
 	if (stuck != SHP_STUCK_NOT ||
 	    (sect.sct_own
 	     && relations_with(sect.sct_own, actor) < FRIENDLY)) {
-	    if (stuck == SHP_STUCK_CANAL)
+	    if (stuck == SHP_STUCK_CANAL &&
+		(!sect.sct_own
+		 || relations_with(sect.sct_own, actor) >= FRIENDLY))
 		sprintf(dp,
 			"is too large to fit into the canal system at %s",
 			xyas(newx, newy, actor));
diff --git a/tests/navi-march/01-navigate-1 b/tests/navi-march/01-navigate-1
index f9ae3e9f..a1da2719 100644
--- a/tests/navi-march/01-navigate-1
+++ b/tests/navi-march/01-navigate-1
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ h
 | enter unfriendly canal -10,2
 navi 65 bX
 h
-| BUG: reports "too large"
 | enter unowned bridge 10,0, friendly -6,0, unfriendly bridge -10,0
 navi 70 gh
 navi 71 gh
diff --git a/tests/navi-march/journal.log b/tests/navi-march/journal.log
index c3cca2c9..d325f0f3 100644
--- a/tests/navi-march/journal.log
+++ b/tests/navi-march/journal.log
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
     Play#1 input navi 65 bX
     Play#1 command navigate
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 Flagship is cs   cargo ship (#65)
-    Play#1 output Play#1 1 is too large to fit into the canal system at -10,2
+    Play#1 output Play#1 1 can't go to -10,2
     Play#1 output Play#1 1  = .
     Play#1 output Play#1 1 h h h
     Play#1 output Play#1 1  c c