diff --git a/src/init/storyInit.tw b/src/init/storyInit.tw
index a61c1de4d6f31354b419aecffa7cc9ac14b174b2..f4e99725f497c1c48e25f7de437e9b43ecf9e8fb 100644
--- a/src/init/storyInit.tw
+++ b/src/init/storyInit.tw
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with thi
 	<<set $useSlaveSummaryTabs = 0>>
 	<<set $useSlaveSummaryOverviewTab = 0>>
 	<<set $useSlaveListInPageJSNavigation = 0>>
+	<<set $killChoice = -1>>
 
 	/* master suite reporting and alternate descriptions */
 	<<set $verboseDescriptions = 0>>
diff --git a/src/pregmod/killSlave.tw b/src/pregmod/killSlave.tw
index 9a3ae0d62977831e9a0a27cc99699c2f9b8cc99b..311b66758a330bc44be90df41ee738274fdcc080 100644
--- a/src/pregmod/killSlave.tw
+++ b/src/pregmod/killSlave.tw
@@ -64,11 +64,12 @@
 	to which $he still doesn't respond.
 <</if>>
 
+/* TODO: rework this into one passage */
 <<if $killChoice == -1>>
 	<br>
 	<br><<link "Kill $him" "KilledSlave">><<set $killChoice = 0>><</link>>
 	<br><<link "Have mercy on $him" "KilledSlave">><<set $killChoice = 1>><</link>>
-	<<if ($activeSlave.assignment != "guard you") && ($pit > 0)>>
+	<<if $activeSlave.assignment != "guard you" && $pit && $Bodyguard>>
 		<<if ($pitLethal == 1)>>
 			<br><<link "Let $him win $his life in combat" "KilledSlave">><<set $killChoice = 2>><</link>>
 		<<else>>
diff --git a/src/pregmod/killedSlave.tw b/src/pregmod/killedSlave.tw
index 9933056df25b2d9f01e587b5c1b9316ab38505e8..6b39e8609cee3cda7a68d2cc08ef207015ab01a4 100644
--- a/src/pregmod/killedSlave.tw
+++ b/src/pregmod/killedSlave.tw
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 :: KilledSlave [nobr]
 
 <<if $killChoice <= 0>>
-<<setLocalPronouns $Bodyguard 2>>
+<<if $Bodyguard>>
+	<<setLocalPronouns $Bodyguard 2>>
+<</if>>
 
 <<set _qualifiedFS = []>>
 <<if $arcologies[0].FSRomanRevivalist != "unset">>
diff --git a/src/uncategorized/BackwardsCompatibility.tw b/src/uncategorized/BackwardsCompatibility.tw
index 5bc5ad339abb59aefcfc6de6c2c2bf8e8d1f4000..38b17d7fe27e54431d0a8d3b4d1c3a5a7e1ff00f 100644
--- a/src/uncategorized/BackwardsCompatibility.tw
+++ b/src/uncategorized/BackwardsCompatibility.tw
@@ -664,6 +664,9 @@
 <<if ndef $freshPC>>
 	<<set $freshPC = 0>>
 <</if>>
+<<if ndef $killChoice>>
+	<<set $killChoice = -1>>
+<</if>>
 <<if ndef $incubator>>
 	<<set $incubator = 0>>
 <</if>>