diff --git a/lib/std/living/status.c b/lib/std/living/status.c
index ffbca451..03e1d326 100644
--- a/lib/std/living/status.c
+++ b/lib/std/living/status.c
@@ -36,11 +36,7 @@ int query_immobile () {
 }
 
 void set_posture (string p) {
-    if (
-        !stringp(p) &&
-        !sizeof(p) &&
-        member_array(p, ({ "flying", "laying", "meditating", "sitting", "standing" })) == -1
-    ) {
+    if (member_array(p, ({ "flying", "laying", "meditating", "sitting", "standing" })) == -1) {
         error("Bad argument 1 to status->set_posture");
     }
     __Posture = p;
diff --git a/lib/std/living/status.test.c b/lib/std/living/status.test.c
index 00260686..8f93567d 100644
--- a/lib/std/living/status.test.c
+++ b/lib/std/living/status.test.c
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ void test_posture () {
         assert_equal(testOb->query_posture(), "laying"),
         testOb->set_posture("standing"),
         assert_equal(testOb->query_posture(), "standing"),
+
+        assert_catch((: testOb->set_posture("unknown") :), "*Bad argument 1 to status->set_posture\n"),
     }) :));
 
     // @TODO