diff --git a/src/alchemy.c b/src/alchemy.c
index edd4746bc..3403d7c46 100644
--- a/src/alchemy.c
+++ b/src/alchemy.c
@@ -47,12 +47,14 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-void herbsearch(region * r, unit * u, int max)
+void herbsearch(unit * u, int max)
 {
+    region * r = u->region;
     int herbsfound;
     const item_type *whichherb;
+    int effsk = effskill(u, SK_HERBALISM);
 
-    if (eff_skill(u, SK_HERBALISM, r) == 0) {
+    if (effsk == 0) {
         cmistake(u, u->thisorder, 59, MSG_PRODUCE);
         return;
     }
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ void herbsearch(region * r, unit * u, int max)
         max = _min(max, rherbs(r));
     else
         max = rherbs(r);
-    herbsfound = ntimespprob(eff_skill(u, SK_HERBALISM, r) * u->number,
+    herbsfound = ntimespprob(effsk * u->number,
         (double)rherbs(r) / 100.0F, -0.01F);
     herbsfound = _min(herbsfound, max);
     rsetherbs(r, rherbs(r) - herbsfound);
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ void herbsearch(region * r, unit * u, int max)
     }
     else {
         ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("researchherb_none",
-            "unit region", u, u->region));
+            "unit region", u, r));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/alchemy.h b/src/alchemy.h
index 79f771b45..6dec4120b 100644
--- a/src/alchemy.h
+++ b/src/alchemy.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ extern "C" {
         MAX_POTIONS
     };
 
-    void herbsearch(struct region *r, struct unit *u, int max);
+    void herbsearch(struct unit *u, int max);
     extern int use_potion(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype,
         int amount, struct order *);
     extern int use_potion_delayed(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype,
diff --git a/src/alchemy.test.c b/src/alchemy.test.c
index 16811725a..fed4946f2 100644
--- a/src/alchemy.test.c
+++ b/src/alchemy.test.c
@@ -33,14 +33,14 @@ static void test_herbsearch(CuTest * tc)
     u = test_create_unit(f, r);
     itype = test_create_itemtype("rosemary");
 
-    herbsearch(r, u, INT_MAX);
+    herbsearch(u, INT_MAX);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error59"));
     free_messagelist(f->msgs);
     f->msgs = 0;
 
     set_level(u, SK_HERBALISM, 1);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, u2, is_guarded(r, u, GUARD_PRODUCE));
-    herbsearch(r, u, INT_MAX);
+    herbsearch(u, INT_MAX);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error70"));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error59"));
     free_messagelist(f->msgs);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ static void test_herbsearch(CuTest * tc)
     guard(u2, GUARD_NONE);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, is_guarded(r, u, GUARD_PRODUCE));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, (void *)rherbtype(r));
-    herbsearch(r, u, INT_MAX);
+    herbsearch(u, INT_MAX);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error108"));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error70"));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error59"));
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static void test_herbsearch(CuTest * tc)
     rsetherbtype(r, itype);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)itype, (void *)rherbtype(r));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, rherbs(r));
-    herbsearch(r, u, INT_MAX);
+    herbsearch(u, INT_MAX);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "researchherb_none"));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error108"));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "error70"));
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ static void test_herbsearch(CuTest * tc)
 
     rsetherbs(r, 100);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 100, rherbs(r));
-    herbsearch(r, u, INT_MAX);
+    herbsearch(u, INT_MAX);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 99, rherbs(r));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, i_get(u->items, itype));
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, test_find_messagetype(f->msgs, "herbfound"));
diff --git a/src/economy.c b/src/economy.c
index 8cf46845b..f580f10b0 100644
--- a/src/economy.c
+++ b/src/economy.c
@@ -1546,7 +1546,7 @@ int make_cmd(unit * u, struct order *ord)
         return 0;
     }
     else if (p == P_HERBS) {
-        herbsearch(r, u, m);
+        herbsearch(u, m);
         return 0;
     }