diff --git a/rogue4/things.c b/rogue4/things.c
index 292dba4..fd00fd2 100644
--- a/rogue4/things.c
+++ b/rogue4/things.c
@@ -578,13 +578,18 @@ void
 end_line(void)
 {
     if (!slow_invent)
+    {
 	if (line_cnt == 1 && !newpage)
 	{
 	    mpos = 0;
 	    msg(lastfmt, lastarg);
 	}
 	else
+	{
 	    add_line(NULL, NULL);
+	    msg("");
+	}
+    }
     line_cnt = 0;
     newpage = FALSE;
 }
diff --git a/rogue5/things.c b/rogue5/things.c
index db6c0e3..39151c5 100644
--- a/rogue5/things.c
+++ b/rogue5/things.c
@@ -390,7 +390,6 @@ discovered(void)
 	print_disc(ch);
 	end_line();
     }
-    msg("");
 }
 
 /*
@@ -487,7 +486,7 @@ add_line(const char *fmt, const char *arg)
     }
     if (inv_type == INV_SLOW)
     {
-	if (*fmt != '\0')
+	if (fmt != NULL && *fmt != '\0')
 	    if (msg(fmt, arg) == ESCAPE)
 		return ESCAPE;
 	line_cnt++;
@@ -577,7 +576,10 @@ end_line(void)
 	    msg(lastfmt, lastarg);
 	}
 	else
+	{
 	    add_line(NULL, NULL);
+	    msg("");
+	}
     }
     line_cnt = 0;
     newpage = FALSE;