diff --git a/src/dict.c b/src/dict.c
index 30264a9..ffd5d38 100644
--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -1122,10 +1122,11 @@
 	    {
 		if (*action == 'm')
 		{
-		    // cheap way to move a dict item from "d2" to "d1"
+		    // Cheap way to move a dict item from "d2" to "d1".
+		    // If dict_add() fails then "d2" won't be empty.
 		    di1 = HI2DI(hi2);
-		    dict_add(d1, di1);
-		    hash_remove(&d2->dv_hashtab, hi2);
+		    if (dict_add(d1, di1) == OK)
+			hash_remove(&d2->dv_hashtab, hi2);
 		}
 		else
 		{