diff --git a/include/file.h b/include/file.h
index cf20114f..f6ea83bb 100644
--- a/include/file.h
+++ b/include/file.h
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ extern int ef_close(int);
 extern int ef_flush(int);
 extern int ef_write(int, int, caddr_t);
 extern int ef_extend(int, int);
+extern int ef_ensure_space(int, int, int);
 extern void ef_zapcache(int);
 extern int ef_nelem(int);
 extern int ef_flags(int);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/edit.c b/src/lib/commands/edit.c
index 3575d21d..7c0b2972 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/edit.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/edit.c
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ edit(void)
 	case 's':
 	    if ((err = doship(thing[0], arg, ptr, &ship)) != RET_OK)
 		return err;
+	    if (!ef_ensure_space(EF_SHIP, ship.shp_uid, 50))
+		return RET_FAIL;
 	    if (!putship(ship.shp_uid, &ship))
 		return RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
@@ -217,6 +219,8 @@ edit(void)
 	    if ((err = dounit(thing[0], arg, ptr, &land))
 		!= RET_OK)
 		return err;
+	    if (!ef_ensure_space(EF_LAND, land.lnd_uid, 50))
+		return RET_FAIL;
 	    if (!putland(land.lnd_uid, &land))
 		return RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
@@ -224,6 +228,8 @@ edit(void)
 	    if ((err = doplane(thing[0], arg, ptr, &plane))
 		!= RET_OK)
 		return err;
+	    if (!ef_ensure_space(EF_PLANE, plane.pln_uid, 50))
+		return RET_FAIL;
 	    if (!putplane(plane.pln_uid, &plane))
 		return RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
diff --git a/src/lib/common/file.c b/src/lib/common/file.c
index 1418657a..c0b58062 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/file.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/file.c
@@ -474,3 +474,13 @@ ef_check(int type)
     }
     return 0;
 }
+
+int
+ef_ensure_space(int type, int id, int count)
+{
+    while (id >= empfile[type].fids) {
+	if (!ef_extend(type, count))
+	    return 0;
+    }
+    return 1;
+}