diff --git a/jets/f/ut_burn.c b/jets/f/ut_burn.c
index 08c87d2efd..2af7d4b481 100644
--- a/jets/f/ut_burn.c
+++ b/jets/f/ut_burn.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     if ( c3n == u3du(sut) ) switch ( sut ) {
       default: return u3m_bail(c3__fail);
 
-      case c3__noun: return 0;
+      case c3__noun: return u3nc(u3_nul, 0);
       case c3__void: {
         return u3_nul;
       }
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@
 
       case c3__atom: u3x_cell(u3t(sut), &p_sut, &q_sut);
       {
-        return u3k(q_sut);
+        if ( c3y == u3du(q_sut) ) {
+          return u3nc(u3_nul, u3k(u3t(q_sut)));
+        } else {
+          return u3nc(u3_nul, 0);
+        }
       }
       case c3__cell: u3x_cell(u3t(sut), &p_sut, &q_sut);
       {
@@ -144,7 +148,17 @@
   _cqfu_burn(u3_noun van,
              u3_noun sut)
   {
-    return _burn_in(van, sut, u3_nul);
+    u3_noun unt = _burn_in(van, sut, u3_nul);
+
+    if ( u3_nul == unt ) {
+      return u3m_error("burn");
+    } 
+    else {
+      u3_noun ret = u3k(u3t(unt));
+
+      u3z(unt);
+      return ret;
+    }
   }
 
   u3_noun
diff --git a/jets/f/ut_mint.c b/jets/f/ut_mint.c
index 93eaaad17c..9a02dbc3e9 100644
--- a/jets/f/ut_mint.c
+++ b/jets/f/ut_mint.c
@@ -615,12 +615,7 @@
 
         {
           u3_noun cag = u3qfu_burn(van, sut);
-          u3_noun wim;
-          if ( 0 == cag ) {
-            wim = u3nc(2, 0);
-          } else {
-            wim = u3n_nock_an(u3k(u3t(cag)), u3k(q_nef));
-          }
+          u3_noun wim = u3n_nock_an(cag, u3k(q_nef));
 
           if ( 0 == u3h(wim) ) {
             fom = u3nc(1, u3k(u3t(wim)));