diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index c51a00058..d262eab95 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ E int NDECL(doinvoke);
 E boolean FDECL(finesse_ahriman, (struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(arti_speak, (struct obj *));
 E boolean FDECL(artifact_light, (struct obj *));
-E int FDECL(artifact_wet, (struct obj *, BOOLEAN_P));
+E boolean FDECL(artifact_wet, (struct obj *));
 E long FDECL(spec_mh, (struct obj *));
 E boolean FDECL(artifact_has_invprop, (struct obj *, UCHAR_P));
 E long FDECL(arti_cost, (struct obj *));
diff --git a/src/artifact.c b/src/artifact.c
index 1a4b463f0..adcafa257 100644
--- a/src/artifact.c
+++ b/src/artifact.c
@@ -4036,40 +4036,29 @@ struct obj *obj;
  *      This only prints messages about the actual artifact.
  */
 
-int
-artifact_wet(obj, silent)
+boolean
+artifact_wet(obj)
 struct obj *obj;
-boolean silent;
 {
     if (!obj->oartifact)
-        return (-1);
+        return FALSE;
     switch (artilist[(int) (obj)->oartifact].attk.adtyp) {
-    case AD_FIRE:
-        if (!silent) {
+        case AD_FIRE:
             pline("A cloud of steam rises.");
-            pline("%s is untouched.", The(xname(obj)));
-        }
-        return (AD_FIRE);
-    case AD_COLD:
-        if (!silent) {
+            return TRUE;
+        case AD_COLD:
             pline("Icicles form and fall from the freezing %s.", xname(obj));
-        }
-        return (AD_COLD);
-    case AD_ELEC:
-        if (!silent) {
-            pline_The("humid air crackles with electricity from %s.",
-                      xname(obj));
-        }
-        return (AD_ELEC);
-    case AD_DRLI:
-        if (!silent) {
+            return TRUE;
+        case AD_ELEC:
+            pline_The("humid air crackles with electricity from %s.", xname(obj));
+            return TRUE;
+        case AD_DRLI:
             pline("%s absorbs the water!", The(xname(obj)));
-        }
-        return (AD_DRLI);
-    default:
-        break;
+            return TRUE;
+        default:
+            break;
     }
-    return (-1);
+    return FALSE;
 }
 
 /* WAC return TRUE if artifact is always lit */
diff --git a/src/fountain.c b/src/fountain.c
index 3cf3c3457..a80131066 100644
--- a/src/fountain.c
+++ b/src/fountain.c
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ register struct obj *obj;
     }
 
     /* If it is an artifact, it might have a special effect. */
-    artifact_wet(obj, FALSE);
+    artifact_wet(obj);
 
     switch (rnd(30)) {
     case 16: /* Curse the item */
diff --git a/src/potion.c b/src/potion.c
index c82538d86..f69b4c801 100644
--- a/src/potion.c
+++ b/src/potion.c
@@ -3068,7 +3068,7 @@ boolean ourfault;
     /* Just "fall through" to generic rustprone check for now. */
     /* fall through */
     default:
-        if (artifact_wet(targobj, FALSE) != -1)
+        if (artifact_wet(targobj))
             return TRUE;
 
         if (targobj->spe > 0) {