diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 41374c1a3..bf9a11d6e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace
     bool isAllowedToUse (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& item, MWWorld::Ptr& victim)
     {
         const std::string& owner = item.getCellRef().mOwner;
-        bool isOwned = !owner.empty();
+        bool isOwned = !owner.empty() && owner != "player";
 
         const std::string& faction = item.getCellRef().mFaction;
         bool isFactionOwned = false;