diff --git a/src/elements/pbcn.c b/src/elements/pbcn.c
index 634a4112e..5fb361c1f 100644
--- a/src/elements/pbcn.c
+++ b/src/elements/pbcn.c
@@ -60,11 +60,16 @@ int update_PBCN(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 	if (parts[i].ctype>0 && parts[i].ctype<PT_NUM && parts[i].life==10) {
 		if (parts[i].ctype==PT_PHOT) {//create photons a different way
 			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++) {
-				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++) {
-					int r = create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
-					if (r!=-1) {
-						parts[r].vx = rx*3;
-						parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++)
+				{
+					if (rx || ry)
+					{
+						int r = create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
+						if (r!=-1)
+						{
+							parts[r].vx = rx*3;
+							parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/elements/pcln.c b/src/elements/pcln.c
index aff8e76cc..197263281 100644
--- a/src/elements/pcln.c
+++ b/src/elements/pcln.c
@@ -50,11 +50,16 @@ int update_PCLN(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 	if (parts[i].ctype>0 && parts[i].ctype<PT_NUM && parts[i].life==10) {
 		if (parts[i].ctype==PT_PHOT) {//create photons a different way
 			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++) {
-				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++) {
-					int r = create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
-					if (r!=-1) {
-						parts[r].vx = rx*3;
-						parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++)
+				{
+					if (rx || ry)
+					{
+						int r = create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
+						if (r!=-1)
+						{
+							parts[r].vx = rx*3;
+							parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}