diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
index b4915bca0..5b55b3877 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
@@ -526,11 +526,19 @@ void moveplayers(void)
 //
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-void movefx(void)
+void tickstat(int stat)
 {
-	DukeStatIterator iti(STAT_FX);
+	DukeStatIterator iti(stat);
 	while (auto act = iti.Next())
-		CallTick(act);
+	{
+		if (actorflag(act, SFLAG2_DIENOW))
+		{
+			act->Destroy();
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (act->GetClass() != RUNTIME_CLASS(DDukeActor))
+			CallTick(act);
+	}
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
index 5e89dbe5e..cbb8f6b85 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
@@ -3283,7 +3283,7 @@ void think_d(void)
 	moveeffectors_d();		//ST 3
 	movestandables_d();		//ST 6
 	doanimations();
-	movefx();				//ST 11
+	tickstat(STAT_FX);				//ST 11
 
 	thinktime.Unclock();
 }
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
index 6291c98e3..a808c7fc4 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
@@ -1881,10 +1881,22 @@ static void rrra_specialstats()
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //
-// 
+// this one's a hack. Can only be replaced with something better when
+// the switch code has been redone.
 //
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+void resetswitch(int tag)
+{
+	DukeStatIterator it2(STAT_DEFAULT);
+	while (auto act2 = it2.Next())
+	{
+		if (act2->spr.picnum == DIPSWITCH3 + 1)
+			if (act2->spr.hitag == tag)
+				act2->spr.picnum = DIPSWITCH3;
+	}
+}
+
 void rr_specialstats()
 {
 	DukeStatIterator it(STAT_LUMBERMILL);
@@ -1906,13 +1918,7 @@ void rr_specialstats()
 				act->spr.pos.Z = act->sector()->floorz - 59.25;
 				act->spr.extra = 0;
 				act->spr.picnum = LUMBERBLADE1;
-				DukeStatIterator it2(STAT_DEFAULT);
-				while (auto act2 = it2.Next())
-				{
-					if (act2->spr.picnum == DIPSWITCH3 + 1)
-						if (act2->spr.hitag == 999)
-							act2->spr.picnum = DIPSWITCH3;
-				}
+				resetswitch(999);
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -3581,7 +3587,7 @@ void think_r(void)
 	moveeffectors_r();		//ST 3
 	movestandables_r();		//ST 6
 	doanimations();
-	movefx();				//ST 11
+	tickstat(STAT_FX);				//ST 11
 
 	if (numplayers < 2 && thunderon)
 		thunder();
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/funct.h b/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
index c459839c6..3654afad5 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/funct.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ void movedummyplayers(void);
 void resetlanepics(void);
 void moveplayers();
 void doanimations();
-void movefx();
+void tickstat(int stat);
 void operaterespawns(int low);
 void moveclouds(double interpfrac);
 void movefta();