diff --git a/includes/powder.h b/includes/powder.h
index 23f4217e2..71ac93d72 100644
--- a/includes/powder.h
+++ b/includes/powder.h
@@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ particle portalp[CHANNELS][8][80];
 const particle emptyparticle;
 int wireless[CHANNELS][2];
 
-extern int ISWIRE;
+extern int wire_placed;
 
 extern int gravwl_timeout;
 
diff --git a/src/powder.c b/src/powder.c
index 4add0b60f..f95c8e76d 100644
--- a/src/powder.c
+++ b/src/powder.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 int gravwl_timeout = 0;
 
-int ISWIRE = 0;
+int wire_placed = 0;
 
 float player[28]; //[0] is a command cell, [3]-[18] are legs positions, [19]-[26] are accelerations, [27] shows if player was spawned
 float player2[28];
@@ -1469,17 +1469,20 @@ void update_particles_i(pixel *vid, int start, int inc)
 		}
 	}
 	//wire!
-	if(ISWIRE == 1)
+	if(wire_placed == 1)
 	{
-		ISWIRE = 0;
+		wire_placed = 0;
 		for (nx=0; nx<XRES; nx++)
+		{
 			for (ny=0; ny<YRES; ny++)
 		    {
 			    r = pmap[ny][nx];
 			    if ((r>>8)>=NPART || !r)
 			        continue;
-			    parts[r>>8].tmp=parts[r>>8].ctype;
+				if(parts[r>>8].type==PT_WIRE)
+					parts[r>>8].tmp=parts[r>>8].ctype;
 		    }
+		}
 	}
 	//game of life!
 	if (ISGOL==1&&++CGOL>=GSPEED)//GSPEED is frames per generation
@@ -1890,7 +1893,7 @@ void update_particles_i(pixel *vid, int start, int inc)
 			}
 			if (t==PT_WIRE)
 			{
-				ISWIRE = 1;
+				wire_placed = 1;
 			}
 			//spark updates from walls
 			if ((ptypes[t].properties&PROP_CONDUCTS) || t==PT_SPRK)