diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
index 4ea2a44c7..9c54664b4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/companionwindow.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void CompanionWindow::onItemSelected(int index)
     const ItemStack& item = mSortModel->getItem(index);
 
     // We can't take conjured items from a companion NPC
-    if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6 && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
+    if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
     {
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox("#{sBarterDialog12}");
         return;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
index bc04eafeb..18488b9b3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ namespace MWGui
         MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound (sound, 1.0, 1.0);
 
         // We can't drop a conjured item to the ground; the target container should always be the source container
-        if (mItem.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6 && mItem.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_" && targetModel != mSourceModel)
+        if (mItem.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound && targetModel != mSourceModel)
         {
             MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox("#{sBarterDialog12}");
             return;
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ namespace MWGui
         const ItemStack& item = mSortModel->getItem(index);
 
         // We can't take a conjured item from a container (some NPC we're pickpocketing, a box, etc)
-        if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6 && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
+        if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
         {
             MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox("#{sContentsMessage1}");
             return;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventoryitemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventoryitemmodel.cpp
index 8273b92a6..f45881770 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventoryitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventoryitemmodel.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ void InventoryItemModel::removeItem (const ItemStack& item, size_t count)
 MWWorld::Ptr InventoryItemModel::moveItem(const ItemStack &item, size_t count, ItemModel *otherModel)
 {
     // Can't move conjured items: This is a general fix that also takes care of issues with taking conjured items via the 'Take All' button.
-    if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6 && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
+    if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
         return MWWorld::Ptr();
 
     bool setNewOwner = false;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
index dd2bf3556..151016fe3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         if (mTrading)
         {
-            // Can't give cojured items to a merchant
-            if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6 && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
+            // Can't give conjured items to a merchant
+            if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
             {
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound (sound, 1.0, 1.0);
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox("#{sBarterDialog9}");
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
index fbe199e0e..f6882ada6 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/pickpocketitemmodel.cpp
@@ -45,11 +45,8 @@ namespace MWGui
             const ItemStack& item = mSourceModel->getItem(i);
 
             // Bound items may not be stolen
-            if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6
-                    && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
-            {
+            if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
                 continue;
-            }
 
             if (std::find(mHiddenItems.begin(), mHiddenItems.end(), item) == mHiddenItems.end()
                     && item.mType != ItemStack::Type_Equipped)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
index 7ac14f7b5..3abfac997 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tradeitemmodel.cpp
@@ -169,11 +169,8 @@ namespace MWGui
                     continue;
 
                 // Bound items may not be bought
-                if (item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().size() > 6
-                        && item.mBase.getCellRef().getRefId().substr(0,6) == "bound_")
-                {
+                if (item.mFlags & ItemStack::Flag_Bound)
                     continue;
-                }
 
                 // don't show equipped items
                 if(mMerchant.getClass().hasInventoryStore(mMerchant))