diff --git a/src/lua_baselib.c b/src/lua_baselib.c
index b33db8728..c400f01c5 100644
--- a/src/lua_baselib.c
+++ b/src/lua_baselib.c
@@ -1195,8 +1195,8 @@ static int lib_pGivePlayerRings(lua_State *L)
 	INLEVEL
 	if (!player)
 		return LUA_ErrInvalid(L, "player_t");
-	P_GivePlayerRings(player, num_rings);
-	return 0;
+	lua_pushinteger(L, P_GivePlayerRings(player, num_rings));
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static int lib_pGivePlayerLives(lua_State *L)
diff --git a/src/p_enemy.c b/src/p_enemy.c
index a2c719609..c96bf979f 100644
--- a/src/p_enemy.c
+++ b/src/p_enemy.c
@@ -4186,10 +4186,8 @@ void A_AttractChase(mobj_t *actor)
 		{
 			if (actor->extravalue1 >= 16)
 			{
-				if (actor->target->player->rings >= 20)
+				if (!P_GivePlayerRings(actor->target->player, 1)) // returns 0 if addition failed
 					actor->target->player->kartstuff[k_ringboost] += K_GetKartRingPower(actor->target->player)+3;
-				else
-					P_GivePlayerRings(actor->target->player, 1);
 
 				if (actor->cvmem) // caching
 					S_StartSound(actor->target, sfx_s1c5);
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index 4371752c8..eb2cabc66 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -2211,15 +2211,14 @@ void P_PlayerRingBurst(player_t *player, INT32 num_rings)
 	if (K_GetShieldFromItem(player->kartstuff[k_itemtype]) != KSHIELD_NONE)
 		return;
 
-	// 20 is the ring cap in kart
+	// 20 is the maximum number of rings that can be taken from you at once - half the span of your counter
 	if (num_rings > 20)
 		num_rings = 20;
 	else if (num_rings <= 0)
 		return;
 
-	num_fling_rings = min(num_rings, player->rings);
-
-	P_GivePlayerRings(player, -num_rings);
+	num_rings = -P_GivePlayerRings(player, -num_rings);
+	num_fling_rings = num_rings+min(0, player->rings);
 
 	// determine first angle
 	fa = player->mo->angle + ((P_RandomByte() & 1) ? -ANGLE_90 : ANGLE_90);
diff --git a/src/p_local.h b/src/p_local.h
index c5eac863e..be4065466 100644
--- a/src/p_local.h
+++ b/src/p_local.h
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ boolean P_EndingMusic(player_t *player);
 void P_SpawnShieldOrb(player_t *player);
 void P_SwitchShield(player_t *player, UINT16 shieldtype);
 mobj_t *P_SpawnGhostMobj(mobj_t *mobj);
-void P_GivePlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 num_rings);
+INT32 P_GivePlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 num_rings);
 void P_GivePlayerSpheres(player_t *player, INT32 num_spheres);
 void P_GivePlayerLives(player_t *player, INT32 numlives);
 UINT8 P_GetNextEmerald(void);
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index e4785b249..963945c7a 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -487,23 +487,29 @@ void P_ResetPlayer(player_t *player)
 //
 // Gives rings to the player, and does any special things required.
 // Call this function when you want to increment the player's health.
+// Returns the number of rings successfully given (or taken).
 //
 
-void P_GivePlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 num_rings)
+INT32 P_GivePlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 num_rings)
 {
+	INT32 test;
+
 	if (!player->mo)
-		return;
+		return 0;
 
 	if ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS)) // No rings in Battle Mode
-		return;
+		return 0;
+
+	test = player->rings + num_rings;
+	if (test > 20) // Caps at 20 rings, sorry!
+		num_rings -= (test-20);
+	else if (test < -20) // Chaotix ring debt!
+		num_rings -= (test+20);
 
 	player->rings += num_rings;
-	//player->totalring += num_rings; // Used for GP lives later
+	//player->totalring += num_rings; // Used for GP lives later -- maybe you might want to move this earlier to discourage ring debt...
 
-	if (player->rings > 20)
-		player->rings = 20; // Caps at 20 rings, sorry!
-	else if (player->rings < -20)
-		player->rings = -20; // Chaotix ring debt!
+	return num_rings;
 }
 
 //