diff --git a/lf.c b/lf.c
index c6118c7..d459a32 100644
--- a/lf.c
+++ b/lf.c
@@ -12383,6 +12383,8 @@ void giveobflags(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o, enum FLAG whattype) {
 				newval[1] = f->val[2];
 
 				// cursed objects might confer different flags...
+				// TODO: if you uncurse the object, you don't lose the penalty until
+				//       you take it off.
 				if (iscursed(o)) {
 					if (newid == F_VISRANGEMOD) {
 						if (newval[0] != NA) {
@@ -25234,8 +25236,6 @@ int takeoff(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
 	}
 
 	// remove the equipped flag
-	killflagsofid(o->flags, F_EQUIPPED);
-
 	taketime(lf, getactspeed(lf));
 	if (gamemode == GM_GAMESTARTED) {
 		if (isplayer(lf)) {
@@ -25249,15 +25249,9 @@ int takeoff(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
 
 	}
 
-	unequipeffects(lf, o);
-
-	// if you don't have a pack, it goes to the ground.
-	if (lfhasflag(lf, F_NOPACK)) {
-		moveob(o, lf->cell->obpile, o->amt);
-	}
+	makeunequipped(lf, o);
 
 	return B_FALSE;
-
 }
 
 
@@ -26023,8 +26017,6 @@ int unweild(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
 		return B_TRUE;
 	}
 
-	// remove the equipped flag
-	killflagsofid(o->flags, F_EQUIPPED);
 
 	// unweilding doesn't take any time
 	if (gamemode == GM_GAMESTARTED) {
@@ -26037,12 +26029,7 @@ int unweild(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	unequipeffects(lf, o);
-
-	// if you don't have a pack, it goes to the ground.
-	if (lfhasflag(lf, F_NOPACK)) {
-		moveob(o, lf->cell->obpile, o->amt);
-	}
+	makeunequipped(lf, o);
 
 	return B_FALSE;
 }
diff --git a/objects.c b/objects.c
index 973b3ad..254c785 100644
--- a/objects.c
+++ b/objects.c
@@ -9071,6 +9071,17 @@ int makedullermaybe(object_t *o, int howmuch) {
 	return B_FALSE;
 }
 
+void makeunequipped(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
+	// remove the equipped flag
+	killflagsofid(o->flags, F_EQUIPPED);
+
+	unequipeffects(lf, o);
+
+	// if you don't have a pack, it goes to the ground.
+	if (lfhasflag(lf, F_NOPACK)) {
+		moveob(o, lf->cell->obpile, o->amt);
+	}
+}
 
 void makehot(object_t *o, int howmuch, int howlong) {
 	flag_t *f;
@@ -13750,6 +13761,35 @@ int readsomething(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o) {
 					// otherwise only equipped objects will be uncursed.
 					if (o->blessed || isequipped(oo)) {
 						uncurseob(oo, &seen);
+						if (isequipped(oo)) {
+							// forcibly unequip it.
+							makeunequipped(lf, oo);
+
+							if (isplayer(lf)) {
+								char obname[BUFLEN];
+								// announce
+								getobname(oo,obname,oo->amt);
+								if (oo->pile->owner == lf) {
+									msg("Your %s vanishes and reappears in your pack.", noprefix(obname));
+								} else {
+									msg("Your %s vanishes and appears on the ground.", noprefix(obname));
+								}
+							} else if (cansee(player, lf)) {
+								char obname[BUFLEN],lfname[BUFLEN];
+								// announce
+								getobname(oo,obname,oo->amt);
+								getlfname(lf, lfname);
+								if (oo->pile->owner == lf) {
+									msg("%s%s %s vanishes and reappears in %ss pack.", lfname, 
+											getpossessive(lfname), 
+											noprefix(obname), it(lf));
+								} else {
+									msg("%s%s %s vanishes and appears on the ground.", lfname, 
+											getpossessive(lfname), 
+											noprefix(obname));
+								}
+							}
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/objects.h b/objects.h
index bd2da9d..1ed12e7 100644
--- a/objects.h
+++ b/objects.h
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ lifeform_t *makeanimated(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o, int level);
 void makecool(object_t *o, int howmuch, int howlong);
 int makeduller(object_t *o, int howmuch);
 int makedullermaybe(object_t *o, int howmuch);
+void makeunequipped(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *o);
 void makehot(object_t *o, int howmuch, int howlong);
 void makeknown(enum OBTYPE otid);
 void makeknownobclass(enum OBCLASS ocid, enum RARITY rrlev);