diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index e67aa58..1f53095 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -7596,9 +7596,30 @@
     char_u	*word = (char_u *)"";
     hlf_T	attr = HLF_COUNT;
     int		len = 0;
+#ifdef FEAT_SPELL
+    int		wo_spell_save = curwin->w_p_spell;
+
+    if (!curwin->w_p_spell)
+    {
+	did_set_spelllang(curwin);
+	curwin->w_p_spell = TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (*curwin->w_s->b_p_spl == NUL)
+    {
+	emsg(_(e_no_spell));
+	curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
+	return;
+    }
+#endif
 
     if (rettv_list_alloc(rettv) == FAIL)
+    {
+#ifdef FEAT_SPELL
+	curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
+#endif
 	return;
+    }
 
 #ifdef FEAT_SPELL
     if (argvars[0].v_type == VAR_UNKNOWN)
@@ -7611,7 +7632,7 @@
 	    curwin->w_set_curswant = TRUE;
 	}
     }
-    else if (curwin->w_p_spell && *curbuf->b_s.b_p_spl != NUL)
+    else if (*curbuf->b_s.b_p_spl != NUL)
     {
 	char_u	*str = tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]);
 	int	capcol = -1;
@@ -7633,6 +7654,7 @@
 	    }
 	}
     }
+    curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
 #endif
 
     list_append_string(rettv->vval.v_list, word, len);
@@ -7658,13 +7680,32 @@
     int		i;
     listitem_T	*li;
     int		need_capital = FALSE;
+    int		wo_spell_save = curwin->w_p_spell;
+
+    if (!curwin->w_p_spell)
+    {
+	did_set_spelllang(curwin);
+	curwin->w_p_spell = TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (*curwin->w_s->b_p_spl == NUL)
+    {
+	emsg(_(e_no_spell));
+	curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
+	return;
+    }
 #endif
 
     if (rettv_list_alloc(rettv) == FAIL)
+    {
+#ifdef FEAT_SPELL
+	curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
+#endif
 	return;
+    }
 
 #ifdef FEAT_SPELL
-    if (curwin->w_p_spell && *curwin->w_s->b_p_spl != NUL)
+    if (*curwin->w_s->b_p_spl != NUL)
     {
 	str = tv_get_string(&argvars[0]);
 	if (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN)
@@ -7701,6 +7742,7 @@
 	}
 	ga_clear(&ga);
     }
+    curwin->w_p_spell = wo_spell_save;
 #endif
 }