diff --git a/src/lib/subs/sect.c b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
index cae10971..1effb104 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/sect.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ sct_prewrite(int id, void *old, void *new)
     struct sctstr *oldsp = old;
     struct sctstr *sp = new;
     int mil, civs;
-    natid own;
+    natid own, prev_own;
 
     bridge_damaged(sp);
     item_prewrite(sp->sct_item);
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ sct_prewrite(int id, void *old, void *new)
     mil = sp->sct_item[I_MILIT];
     civs = sp->sct_item[I_CIVIL];
     own = sp->sct_own;
+    prev_own = oldsp->sct_own;
 
     if (own && !civs) {
 	sp->sct_work = 100;
@@ -82,18 +83,15 @@ sct_prewrite(int id, void *old, void *new)
     if (own && !civs && !mil && !has_units(sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y, own, NULL)
 	&& !(sp->sct_flags & MOVE_IN_PROGRESS)) {
 	/* more cruft! */
-	own = 0;
+	own = sp->sct_own = 0;
 	sp->sct_mobil = 0;
 	if (sp->sct_type == SCT_CAPIT || sp->sct_type == SCT_MOUNT)
-	    caploss(sp, own, "");
+	    caploss(sp, prev_own, "");
     }
 
-    /* We've avoided assigning to sp->sct_own, in case oldsp == sp */
-    if (oldsp->sct_own != own)
-	lost_and_found(EF_SECTOR, oldsp->sct_own, own,
+    if (prev_own != own)
+	lost_and_found(EF_SECTOR, prev_own, own,
 		       0, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-
-    sp->sct_own = own;
 }
 
 void