diff --git a/src/item.cpp b/src/item.cpp
index b18dd7409fbf6..91f02f42a9a24 100644
--- a/src/item.cpp
+++ b/src/item.cpp
@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ bool item::is_owned_by( const Character &c, bool available_to_take ) const
     // owner.is_null() implies faction_id( "no_faction" ) which shouldnt happen, or no owner at all.
     // either way, certain situations this means the thing is available to take.
     // in other scenarios we actaully really want to check for id == id, even for no_faction
-    if( owner.is_null() ) {
+    if( get_owner().is_null() ) {
         return available_to_take;
     }
     if( !c.get_faction() ) {
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@ bool item::is_owned_by( const Character &c, bool available_to_take ) const
 
 bool item::is_old_owner( const Character &c, bool available_to_take ) const
 {
-    if( old_owner.is_null() ) {
+    if( get_old_owner().is_null() ) {
         return available_to_take;
     }
     if( !c.get_faction() ) {
@@ -1060,11 +1060,11 @@ bool item::is_old_owner( const Character &c, bool available_to_take ) const
 
 std::string item::get_owner_name() const
 {
-    if( !g->faction_manager_ptr->get( owner ) ) {
+    if( !g->faction_manager_ptr->get( get_owner() ) ) {
         debugmsg( "item::get_owner_name() item %s has no valid nor null faction id ", tname() );
         return "no owner";
     }
-    return g->faction_manager_ptr->get( owner )->name;
+    return g->faction_manager_ptr->get( get_owner() )->name;
 }
 
 void item::set_owner( const Character &c )
@@ -1078,14 +1078,26 @@ void item::set_owner( const Character &c )
 
 faction_id item::get_owner() const
 {
+    validate_ownership();
     return owner;
 }
 
 faction_id item::get_old_owner() const
 {
+    validate_ownership();
     return old_owner;
 }
 
+void item::validate_ownership() const
+{
+    if( !old_owner.is_null() && !g->faction_manager_ptr->get( old_owner, false ) ) {
+        remove_old_owner();
+    }
+    if( !owner.is_null() && !g->faction_manager_ptr->get( owner, false ) ) {
+        remove_owner();
+    }
+}
+
 static void insert_separation_line( std::vector<iteminfo> &info )
 {
     if( info.empty() || info.back().sName != "--" ) {
diff --git a/src/item.h b/src/item.h
index 0cdaf4d78434d..ea010ce594ceb 100644
--- a/src/item.h
+++ b/src/item.h
@@ -1964,17 +1964,18 @@ class item : public visitable<item>
         void set_birthday( const time_point &bday );
         void handle_pickup_ownership( Character &c );
         int get_gun_ups_drain() const;
+        void validate_ownership() const;
         inline void set_old_owner( const faction_id &temp_owner ) {
             old_owner = temp_owner;
         }
-        inline void remove_old_owner() {
+        inline void remove_old_owner() const {
             old_owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
         }
         inline void set_owner( const faction_id &new_owner ) {
             owner = new_owner;
         }
         void set_owner( const Character &c );
-        inline void remove_owner() {
+        inline void remove_owner() const {
             owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
         }
         faction_id get_owner() const;
@@ -2184,9 +2185,9 @@ class item : public visitable<item>
          */
         phase_id current_phase = static_cast<phase_id>( 0 );
         // The faction that owns this item.
-        faction_id owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
+        mutable faction_id owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
         // The faction that previously owned this item
-        faction_id old_owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
+        mutable faction_id old_owner = faction_id::NULL_ID();
         int damage_ = 0;
         light_emission light = nolight;