diff --git a/src/g_combat.c b/src/g_combat.c
index b990328..12a2e32 100644
--- a/src/g_combat.c
+++ b/src/g_combat.c
@@ -624,6 +624,24 @@ CheckTeamDamage(edict_t *targ, edict_t *attacker)
 	return false;
 }
 
+static void
+apply_knockback(edict_t *targ, vec3_t dir, float knockback, float scale)
+{
+	vec3_t kvel;
+	float mass;
+
+	if (!knockback)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	mass = (targ->mass < 50) ? 50.0f : (float)targ->mass;
+
+	VectorNormalize2(dir, kvel);
+	VectorScale(kvel, scale * (knockback / mass), kvel);
+	VectorAdd(targ->velocity, kvel, targ->velocity);
+}
+
 void
 T_Damage(edict_t *targ, edict_t *inflictor, edict_t *attacker, vec3_t dir,
 		vec3_t point, vec3_t normal, int damage, int knockback, int dflags,
@@ -726,8 +744,6 @@ T_Damage(edict_t *targ, edict_t *inflictor, edict_t *attacker, vec3_t dir,
 		te_sparks = TE_SPARKS;
 	}
 
-	VectorNormalize(dir);
-
 	/* bonus damage for suprising a monster */
 	if (!(dflags & DAMAGE_RADIUS) && (targ->svflags & SVF_MONSTER) &&
 		(attacker->client) && (!targ->enemy) && (targ->health > 0))
@@ -741,37 +757,14 @@ T_Damage(edict_t *targ, edict_t *inflictor, edict_t *attacker, vec3_t dir,
 	}
 
 	/* figure momentum add */
-	if (!(dflags & DAMAGE_NO_KNOCKBACK))
+	if (!(dflags & DAMAGE_NO_KNOCKBACK) &&
+		(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_NONE) &&
+		(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_BOUNCE) &&
+		(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_PUSH) &&
+		(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_STOP))
 	{
-		if ((knockback) && (targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_NONE) &&
-			(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_BOUNCE) &&
-			(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_PUSH) &&
-			(targ->movetype != MOVETYPE_STOP))
-		{
-			vec3_t kvel;
-			float mass;
-
-			if (targ->mass < 50)
-			{
-				mass = 50;
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				mass = targ->mass;
-			}
-
-			if (targ->client && (attacker == targ))
-			{
-				/* the rocket jump hack... */
-				VectorScale(dir, 1600.0 * (float)knockback / mass, kvel);
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				VectorScale(dir, 500.0 * (float)knockback / mass, kvel);
-			}
-
-			VectorAdd(targ->velocity, kvel, targ->velocity);
-		}
+		apply_knockback (targ, dir, knockback,
+			((client && attacker == targ) ? 1600.0f : 500.0f));
 	}
 
 	take = damage;
diff --git a/src/g_weapon.c b/src/g_weapon.c
index f4fe418..c4a02d2 100644
--- a/src/g_weapon.c
+++ b/src/g_weapon.c
@@ -981,7 +981,14 @@ bfg_touch(edict_t *self, edict_t *other, cplane_t *plane, csurface_t *surf)
 	gi.sound(self, CHAN_VOICE, gi.soundindex("weapons/bfg__x1b.wav"), 1, ATTN_NORM, 0);
 	self->solid = SOLID_NOT;
 	self->touch = NULL;
-	VectorMA(self->s.origin, -1 * FRAMETIME, self->velocity, self->s.origin);
+
+	/* move it back a bit from walls so the effects aren't cut off */
+	if (!other->takedamage)
+	{
+		VectorNormalize(self->velocity);
+		VectorMA(self->s.origin, -40.0f, self->velocity, self->s.origin);
+	}
+
 	VectorClear(self->velocity);
 	self->s.modelindex = gi.modelindex("sprites/s_bfg3.sp2");
 	self->s.frame = 0;
@@ -991,6 +998,8 @@ bfg_touch(edict_t *self, edict_t *other, cplane_t *plane, csurface_t *surf)
 	self->nextthink = level.time + FRAMETIME;
 	self->enemy = other;
 
+	gi.linkentity(self);
+
 	gi.WriteByte(svc_temp_entity);
 	gi.WriteByte(TE_BFG_BIGEXPLOSION);
 	gi.WritePosition(self->s.origin);
diff --git a/src/shared/shared.c b/src/shared/shared.c
index d34a904..81eef9d 100644
--- a/src/shared/shared.c
+++ b/src/shared/shared.c
@@ -503,20 +503,9 @@ VectorNormalize(vec3_t v)
 vec_t
 VectorNormalize2(vec3_t v, vec3_t out)
 {
-	float length, ilength;
+	VectorCopy(v, out);
 
-	length = v[0] * v[0] + v[1] * v[1] + v[2] * v[2];
-	length = (float)sqrt(length);
-
-	if (length)
-	{
-		ilength = 1 / length;
-		out[0] = v[0] * ilength;
-		out[1] = v[1] * ilength;
-		out[2] = v[2] * ilength;
-	}
-
-	return length;
+	return VectorNormalize(out);
 }
 
 void