diff --git a/src/elements/pbcn.cpp b/src/elements/pbcn.cpp
index a6bbe5acc..aa4c33678 100644
--- a/src/elements/pbcn.cpp
+++ b/src/elements/pbcn.cpp
@@ -59,12 +59,19 @@ int update_PBCN(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 	}
 	if (parts[i].ctype>0 && parts[i].ctype<PT_NUM && parts[i].life==10) {
 		if (parts[i].ctype==PT_PHOT) {//create photons a different way
-			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++) {
-				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++) {
-					int r = sim->create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
-					if (r!=-1) {
-						parts[r].vx = rx*3;
-						parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++)
+			{
+				for (ry = -1; ry < 2; ry++)
+				{
+					if (rx || ry)
+					{
+						int r = sim->create_part(-1, x + rx, y + ry,
+								parts[i].ctype);
+						if (r != -1)
+						{
+							parts[r].vx = rx * 3;
+							parts[r].vy = ry * 3;
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/elements/pcln.cpp b/src/elements/pcln.cpp
index 86d67f65b..4fdffb6cf 100644
--- a/src/elements/pcln.cpp
+++ b/src/elements/pcln.cpp
@@ -49,12 +49,19 @@ int update_PCLN(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 				}
 	if (parts[i].ctype>0 && parts[i].ctype<PT_NUM && parts[i].life==10) {
 		if (parts[i].ctype==PT_PHOT) {//create photons a different way
-			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++) {
-				for (ry=-1; ry<2; ry++) {
-					int r = sim->create_part(-1, x+rx, y+ry, parts[i].ctype);
-					if (r!=-1) {
-						parts[r].vx = rx*3;
-						parts[r].vy = ry*3;
+			for (rx=-1; rx<2; rx++)
+			{
+				for (ry = -1; ry < 2; ry++)
+				{
+					if (rx || ry)
+					{
+						int r = sim->create_part(-1, x + rx, y + ry,
+								parts[i].ctype);
+						if (r != -1)
+						{
+							parts[r].vx = rx * 3;
+							parts[r].vy = ry * 3;
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}