diff --git a/include/player.h b/include/player.h
index ede5ad72..766de640 100644
--- a/include/player.h
+++ b/include/player.h
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ struct player {
     int nstat;
     int simulation;		/* e.g. budget command */
     double dolcost;
-    int broke;
     time_t curup;		/* when last input was received */
     int aborted;		/* interrupt cookie received? */
     int eof;			/* EOF (cookie or real) received? */
diff --git a/src/lib/player/init_nats.c b/src/lib/player/init_nats.c
index d522c27c..bb27b1fd 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/init_nats.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/init_nats.c
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ player_set_nstat(struct player *pl, struct natstr *np)
 	return pl->nstat;
     pl->god = np->nat_stat == STAT_GOD;
     pl->nstat = nstat[np->nat_stat];
-    pl->broke = np->nat_money < 0;
-    if (!pl->broke)
+    if (np->nat_money >= 0)
 	pl->nstat |= MONEY;
     if (np->nat_stat >= STAT_ACTIVE && !influx(np))
 	pl->nstat |= CAP;
diff --git a/src/lib/player/player.c b/src/lib/player/player.c
index 52a7e2ba..6212dae6 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/player.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/player.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static int
 status(void)
 {
     struct natstr *natp;
-    int minute;
+    int old_nstat, minute;
     char buf[128];
 
     if (player->state == PS_SHUTDOWN)
@@ -171,12 +171,12 @@ status(void)
     natp->nat_money -= roundavg(player->dolcost);
     player->dolcost = 0.0;
 
-    if (natp->nat_money < 0 && !player->broke) {
-	pr("You are now broke; industries are on strike.\n");
-    } else if (player->broke && natp->nat_money >= 0) {
-	pr("You are no longer broke!\n");
-    }
+    old_nstat = player->nstat;
     player_set_nstat(player, natp);
+    if ((old_nstat & MONEY) && !(player->nstat & MONEY))
+	pr("You are now broke; industries are on strike.\n");
+    if (!(old_nstat & MONEY) && (player->nstat & MONEY))
+	pr("You are no longer broke!\n");
     player->ncomstat = player->nstat;
     if (player->god)
 	player->ncomstat |= CAP | MONEY;