diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index 675177508..eacd674ed 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -489,8 +489,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                         if (!wasDead && isDead)
                             MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->actorKilled(target, caster);
                     }
-                    else
-                        applyInstantEffect(target, caster, EffectKey(*effectIt), magnitude);
+                    else if (!applyInstantEffect(target, caster, EffectKey(*effectIt), magnitude))
+                        continue;
                 }
 
                 // Re-casting a summon effect will remove the creature from previous castings of that effect.
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             target.getClass().onHit(target, 0.f, true, MWWorld::Ptr(), caster, true);
     }
 
-    void CastSpell::applyInstantEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr &target, const MWWorld::Ptr &caster, const MWMechanics::EffectKey& effect, float magnitude)
+    bool CastSpell::applyInstantEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr &target, const MWWorld::Ptr &caster, const MWMechanics::EffectKey& effect, float magnitude)
     {
         short effectId = effect.mId;
         if (target.getClass().canLock(target))
@@ -572,6 +572,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox("#{sMagicLockSuccess}");
                     target.getClass().lock(target, static_cast<int>(magnitude));
                 }
+                return true;
             }
             else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::Open)
             {
@@ -590,43 +591,55 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 }
                 else
                     MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D(target, "Open Lock Fail", 1.f, 1.f);
+                return true;
             }
         }
-        else
+        else if (target.getClass().isActor())
         {
-            if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::CurePoison)
+            switch (effectId)
+            {
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::CurePoison:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getActiveSpells().purgeEffect(ESM::MagicEffect::Poison);
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::CureParalyzation)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::CureParalyzation:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getActiveSpells().purgeEffect(ESM::MagicEffect::Paralyze);
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::CureCommonDisease)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::CureCommonDisease:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getSpells().purgeCommonDisease();
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::CureBlightDisease)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::CureBlightDisease:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getSpells().purgeBlightDisease();
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::CureCorprusDisease)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::CureCorprusDisease:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getSpells().purgeCorprusDisease();
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::Dispel)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::Dispel:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getActiveSpells().purgeAll(magnitude);
-            else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::RemoveCurse)
+                return true;
+            case ESM::MagicEffect::RemoveCurse:
                 target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getSpells().purgeCurses();
+                return true;
+            }
 
             if (target != MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayerPtr())
-                return;
-            if (!MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isTeleportingEnabled())
-                return;
+                return false;
 
             if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::DivineIntervention)
             {
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->teleportToClosestMarker(target, "divinemarker");
+                return true;
             }
             else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::AlmsiviIntervention)
             {
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->teleportToClosestMarker(target, "templemarker");
+                return true;
             }
 
             else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::Mark)
             {
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().markPosition(
                             target.getCell(), target.getRefData().getPosition());
+                return true;
             }
             else if (effectId == ESM::MagicEffect::Recall)
             {
@@ -640,8 +653,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                                             markedPosition, false);
                     action.execute(target);
                 }
+                return true;
             }
         }
+        return false;
     }
 
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
index 418e9f56d..5b48bd4a8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                       const ESM::EffectList& effects, ESM::RangeType range, bool reflected=false, bool exploded=false);
 
         /// @note \a caster can be any type of object, or even an empty object.
-        void applyInstantEffect (const MWWorld::Ptr& target, const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, const MWMechanics::EffectKey& effect, float magnitude);
+        /// @return was the target suitable for the effect?
+        bool applyInstantEffect (const MWWorld::Ptr& target, const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, const MWMechanics::EffectKey& effect, float magnitude);
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index a97c8f0d4..fb2778940 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -2656,10 +2656,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         target = result.mHitObject;
         hitPosition = result.mHitPos;
 
-        // don't allow casting on non-activatable objects
-        if (!target.isEmpty() && !target.getClass().isActor() && target.getClass().getName(target).empty())
-            target = MWWorld::Ptr();
-
         std::string selectedSpell = stats.getSpells().getSelectedSpell();
 
         MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(actor, target);