diff --git a/src/alchemy.c b/src/alchemy.c
index a1dd86c0a..ace6a62dd 100644
--- a/src/alchemy.c
+++ b/src/alchemy.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void herbsearch(unit * u, int max)
     herbsfound = ntimespprob(effsk * u->number,
         (double)rherbs(r) / 100.0F, -0.01F);
     herbsfound = _min(herbsfound, max);
-    rsetherbs(r, (short) (rherbs(r) - herbsfound));
+    rsetherbs(r, rherbs(r) - herbsfound);
 
     if (herbsfound) {
         produceexp(u, SK_HERBALISM, u->number);
diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index 6311d0c3a..12843bd58 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -2298,7 +2298,8 @@ static void plant(unit * u, int raw)
     /* Alles ok. Abziehen. */
     use_pooled(u, rt_water, GET_DEFAULT, 1);
     use_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, n);
-    rsetherbs(r, (short) (rherbs(r) + planted));
+    /* TODO should there a region maximum for herbs? */
+    rsetherbs(r, rherbs(r) + planted);
     ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("plant", "unit region amount herb",
         u, r, planted, itype->rtype));
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/region.c b/src/kernel/region.c
index ed56851ee..5e264d3a2 100644
--- a/src/kernel/region.c
+++ b/src/kernel/region.c
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ int rherbs(const struct region *r)
 void rsetherbs(const struct region *r, int value)
 {
     if (r->land) {
-        assert(value >= 0);
+        assert(value >= 0 && value < (1 << 15));
         r->land->herbs = (short)(value);
     }
 }
@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ void terraform_region(region * r, const terrain_type * terrain)
         }
         if (itype != NULL) {
             rsetherbtype(r, itype);
-            rsetherbs(r, (short)(50 + rng_int() % 31));
+            rsetherbs(r, 50 +  rng_int() % 31);
         }
         else {
             rsetherbtype(r, NULL);
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index d4df2b6f8..40894b3cd 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -946,7 +946,7 @@ static region *readregion(struct gamedata *data, int x, int y)
             rsetherbtype(r, NULL);
         }
         READ_INT(data->store, &n);
-        rsetherbs(r, (short)n);
+        rsetherbs(r, n);
         READ_INT(data->store, &n);
         rsetpeasants(r, n);
         READ_INT(data->store, &n);
diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index 7dc6cd0af..bbb7ee342 100755
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ growing_herbs(region * r, const int current_season, const int last_weeks_season)
         int i;
         for (i = rherbs(r); i > 0; i--) {
             if (rng_int() % 100 < (100 - rherbs(r)))
-                rsetherbs(r, (short)(rherbs(r) + 1));
+                rsetherbs(r, rherbs(r) + 1);
         }
     }
 }