diff --git a/src/give.c b/src/give.c
index 3f8f62927..8affb0bc0 100644
--- a/src/give.c
+++ b/src/give.c
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ message * disband_men(int n, unit * u, struct order *ord) {
 void give_unit(unit * u, unit * u2, order * ord)
 {
     region *r = u->region;
-    int n = u->number;
+    int maxt = max_transfers();
 
     if (!rule_transfermen() && u->faction != u2->faction) {
         cmistake(u, ord, 74, MSG_COMMERCE);
@@ -472,9 +472,11 @@ void give_unit(unit * u, unit * u2, order * ord)
         cmistake(u, ord, 105, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
-    if (u2->faction->newbies + n > max_transfers()) {
-        cmistake(u, ord, 129, MSG_COMMERCE);
-        return;
+    if (maxt >= 0 && u->faction != u2->faction) {
+        if (u2->faction->newbies + u->number > maxt) {
+            cmistake(u, ord, 129, MSG_COMMERCE);
+            return;
+        }
     }
     if (u_race(u) != u2->faction->race) {
         if (u2->faction->race != get_race(RC_HUMAN)) {
@@ -510,9 +512,9 @@ void give_unit(unit * u, unit * u2, order * ord)
         cmistake(u, ord, 156, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
-    add_give(u, u2, n, n, get_resourcetype(R_PERSON), ord, 0);
+    add_give(u, u2, u->number, u->number, get_resourcetype(R_PERSON), ord, 0);
     u_setfaction(u, u2->faction);
-    u2->faction->newbies += n;
+    u2->faction->newbies += u->number;
 }
 
 bool can_give_to(unit *u, unit *u2) {
diff --git a/src/give.test.c b/src/give.test.c
index f1b13011d..a5714f445 100644
--- a/src/give.test.c
+++ b/src/give.test.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "give.h"
 #include "economy.h"
 
+#include <kernel/ally.h>
 #include <kernel/config.h>
 #include <kernel/item.h>
 #include <kernel/terrain.h>
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ static void setup_give(struct give *env) {
     env->dst = env->f2 ? test_create_unit(env->f2, env->r) : 0;
     env->itype = it_get_or_create(rt_get_or_create("money"));
     env->itype->flags |= ITF_HERB;
+    if (env->f1 && env->f2) {
+        ally * al = ally_add(&env->f2->allies, env->f1);
+        al->status = HELP_GIVE;
+    }
 }
 
 static void test_give_unit_to_peasants(CuTest * tc) {
@@ -49,6 +54,25 @@ static void test_give_unit_to_peasants(CuTest * tc) {
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
+static void test_give_unit(CuTest * tc) {
+    struct give env;
+    test_cleanup();
+    env.f1 = test_create_faction(0);
+    env.f2 = test_create_faction(0);
+    setup_give(&env);
+    env.r->terrain = test_create_terrain("ocean", SEA_REGION);
+    set_param(&global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", "0");
+    give_unit(env.src, env.dst, NULL);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, env.f1, env.src->faction);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.f2->newbies);
+    set_param(&global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", "-1");
+    give_unit(env.src, env.dst, NULL);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, env.f2, env.src->faction);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, env.f2->newbies);
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, env.f1->units);
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
 static void test_give_unit_in_ocean(CuTest * tc) {
     struct give env;
     test_cleanup();
@@ -284,6 +308,7 @@ CuSuite *get_give_suite(void)
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_other_faction);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_requires_contact);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_not_to_self);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_unit);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_unit_in_ocean);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_unit_to_peasants);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_peasants);