diff --git a/src/info.c b/src/info.c
index 861120d23..c1136d43d 100644
--- a/src/info.c
+++ b/src/info.c
@@ -22550,7 +22550,7 @@ mobjinfo_t mobjinfo[NUMMOBJTYPES] =
 		MT_RANDOMITEMPOP, // damage
 		sfx_None,         // activesound
 		MF_SLIDEME|MF_SPECIAL|MF_NOGRAVITY|MF_NOCLIPHEIGHT|MF_DONTENCOREMAP, // flags
-		S_NULL            // raisestate
+		S_RANDOMITEM1     // raisestate
 	},
 
 	{           // MT_SPHEREBOX
diff --git a/src/p_enemy.c b/src/p_enemy.c
index 1a0c31c4b..527dcf0b6 100644
--- a/src/p_enemy.c
+++ b/src/p_enemy.c
@@ -13199,7 +13199,13 @@ void A_ItemPop(mobj_t *actor)
 
 	// Here at mapload in battle?
 	if ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && (actor->flags2 & MF2_BOSSNOTRAP))
+	{
 		numgotboxes++;
+
+		// do not flicker back in just yet, handled by
+		// P_RespawnBattleBoxes eventually
+		P_SetMobjState(actor, S_INVISIBLE);
+	}
 }
 
 void A_JawzChase(mobj_t *actor)
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index 7898d0b8e..1edf9fcb2 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -1037,27 +1037,34 @@ void P_KillMobj(mobj_t *target, mobj_t *inflictor, mobj_t *source, UINT8 damaget
 	{
 		if (target->flags & MF_MONITOR || target->type == MT_RANDOMITEM)
 		{
-			UINT8 i;
-
 			P_SetTarget(&target->target, source);
 
-			for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+			if (gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS)
 			{
-				if (&players[i] == source->player)
-				{
-					continue;
-				}
-
-				if (playeringame[i] && !players[i].spectator && players[i].lives != 0)
-				{
-					break;
-				}
+				target->fuse = 2;
 			}
-
-			if (i < MAXPLAYERS)
+			else
 			{
-				// Respawn items in multiplayer, don't respawn them when alone
-				target->fuse = 2*TICRATE + 2;
+				UINT8 i;
+
+				for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+				{
+					if (&players[i] == source->player)
+					{
+						continue;
+					}
+
+					if (playeringame[i] && !players[i].spectator && players[i].lives != 0)
+					{
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+
+				if (i < MAXPLAYERS)
+				{
+					// Respawn items in multiplayer, don't respawn them when alone
+					target->fuse = 2*TICRATE + 2;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index 1c34a1b1e..1d08d63e9 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -9229,7 +9229,7 @@ static boolean P_FuseThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 		{
 			;
 		}
-		else if ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && (mobj->threshold != 70))
+		else if ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && (mobj->state == &states[S_INVISIBLE]))
 		{
 			break;
 		}
@@ -11072,7 +11072,6 @@ void P_RespawnBattleBoxes(void)
 	for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
 	{
 		mobj_t *box;
-		mobj_t *newmobj;
 
 		if (th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
 			continue;
@@ -11081,25 +11080,12 @@ void P_RespawnBattleBoxes(void)
 
 		if (box->type != MT_RANDOMITEM
 			|| (box->flags2 & MF2_DONTRESPAWN)
-			|| box->threshold != 68
-			|| box->fuse
-			|| ((tic_t)box->cvmem+1 >= leveltime))
+			|| box->health > 0
+			|| box->fuse)
 			continue; // only popped items
 
-		// Respawn from mapthing if you have one!
-		if (box->spawnpoint)
-		{
-			P_SpawnMapThing(box->spawnpoint);
-			newmobj = box->spawnpoint->mobj; // this is set to the new mobj in P_SpawnMapThing
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			newmobj = P_SpawnMobj(box->x, box->y, box->z, box->type);
-		}
-
-		// Transfer flags2 (strongbox, objectflip, bossnotrap)
-		newmobj->flags2 = box->flags2;
-		P_RemoveMobj(box); // make sure they disappear
+		box->fuse = TICRATE; // flicker back in (A_ItemPop preps this effect)
+		P_SetMobjState(box, box->info->raisestate);
 
 		if (numgotboxes > 0)
 			numgotboxes--; // you've restored a box, remove it from the count