diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mission.c b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
index bd7af9f7..8b8b3c11 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mission.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ perform_mission(coord x, coord y, natid victim, struct emp_qelem *list,
 		dam2 = TORP_DAMAGE();
 
 		dam += dam2;
-		nreport(victim, N_TORP_SHIP, sp->shp_own, 1);
+		nreport(victim, N_TORP_SHIP, 0, 1);
 		wu(0, sp->shp_own,
 		   "\tTorpedo hit %s %s for %d damage\n",
 		   cname(victim), s, dam2);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/nreport.c b/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
index 28eb0129..cc71b22a 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ nreport(natid actor, int event, natid victim, int times)
     struct natstr *natp;
     struct newscache *ncp;
 
+    if (CANT_HAPPEN((unsigned)event > N_MAX_VERB
+		    || rpt[event].r_newstory[0] == rpt[0].r_newstory[0]))
+	return;
+
     ncp = ncache(actor, event, victim, times);
     putnews(ncp->id, &ncp->news);
 
@@ -171,10 +175,10 @@ ncache(int actor, int event, int victim, int times)
 	    return np;
 	}
     }
-    if (oldslot < 0) {
-	logerror("internal error; ncache oldslot < 0");
-	return &cache[actor][0];
-    }
+    if (CANT_HAPPEN(oldslot < 0))
+	oldslot = 0;
+    if (CANT_HAPPEN(!strstr(rpt[event].r_newstory[0], "%s") && victim != 0))
+	victim = 0;
     np = &cache[actor][oldslot];
     np->news.nws_ano = actor;
     np->news.nws_vno = victim;