diff --git a/crawl-ref/source/mon-gear.cc b/crawl-ref/source/mon-gear.cc
index d34f1b7623d..d003461702a 100644
--- a/crawl-ref/source/mon-gear.cc
+++ b/crawl-ref/source/mon-gear.cc
@@ -1491,9 +1491,14 @@ static void _give_weapon(monster *mon, int level, bool second_weapon = false,
         return;
     }
 
-    const auto real_type = mons_is_zombified(*mon) ? mons_zombie_base(*mon)
-                                                   : mon->type;
-    const int thing_created = make_mons_weapon(real_type, level, second_weapon,
+    monster_type for_type = mon->type;
+    if (mons_is_zombified(*mon))
+    {
+        for_type = mons_zombie_base(*mon);
+        level = ISPEC_DAMAGED;
+    }
+
+    const int thing_created = make_mons_weapon(for_type, level, second_weapon,
                                                !second_weapon && force_archer);
     if (thing_created == NON_ITEM)
         return;