diff --git a/src/info.c b/src/info.c
index ce37b51ad..3c868d4c0 100644
--- a/src/info.c
+++ b/src/info.c
@@ -3849,7 +3849,7 @@ state_t states[NUMSTATES] =
 	{SPR_RNDM, 18|FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_GLOBALANIM, 4, {NULL}, 1, 1, S_RANDOMITEM11},	// S_RANDOMITEM10
 	{SPR_RNDM, 20|FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_GLOBALANIM, 4, {NULL}, 1, 1, S_RANDOMITEM12},	// S_RANDOMITEM11
 	{SPR_RNDM, 22|FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_GLOBALANIM, 4, {NULL}, 1, 1, S_RANDOMITEM1},	// S_RANDOMITEM12
-	{SPR_NULL, 0, 0, {A_ItemPop}, 0, 0, S_NULL},											// S_DEADRANDOMITEM
+	{SPR_NULL, 0, 0, {A_ItemPop}, 0, 0, S_RANDOMITEM1},											// S_DEADRANDOMITEM
 
 	{SPR_SBOX,    FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_GLOBALANIM, 4, {NULL}, 1, 1, S_SPHEREBOX2},	// S_SPHEREBOX1
 	{SPR_SBOX,  2|FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_GLOBALANIM, 4, {NULL}, 1, 1, S_SPHEREBOX3},	// S_SPHEREBOX2
diff --git a/src/p_enemy.c b/src/p_enemy.c
index 879d01350..901c2a2b2 100644
--- a/src/p_enemy.c
+++ b/src/p_enemy.c
@@ -13184,6 +13184,12 @@ void A_ItemPop(mobj_t *actor)
 	actor->flags |= MF_NOCLIP;
 	P_SetThingPosition(actor);
 
+	// RF_DONTDRAW will flicker as the object's fuse gets
+	// closer to running out (see P_FuseThink)
+	actor->renderflags |= RF_DONTDRAW|RF_TRANS50;
+	actor->color = SKINCOLOR_GREY;
+	actor->colorized = true;
+
 	Obj_SpawnItemDebrisEffects(actor, actor->target);
 
 	if (locvar1 == 1)
@@ -13194,8 +13200,6 @@ void A_ItemPop(mobj_t *actor)
 	// Here at mapload in battle?
 	if ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && (actor->flags2 & MF2_BOSSNOTRAP))
 		numgotboxes++;
-
-	P_RemoveMobj(actor);
 }
 
 void A_JawzChase(mobj_t *actor)
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index ee005d960..1c34a1b1e 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -12683,10 +12683,6 @@ static boolean P_SetupSpawnedMapThing(mapthing_t *mthing, mobj_t *mobj, boolean
 				P_SetThingPosition(mobj);
 			}
 		}
-		else
-		{
-			P_SpawnMobj(mobj->x, mobj->y, mobj->z, MT_EXPLODE);
-		}
 		break;
 	}
 	case MT_ITEMCAPSULE: