diff --git a/builtin/item.lua b/builtin/item.lua
index 69c4bd0b..1349fdf6 100644
--- a/builtin/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/item.lua
@@ -290,7 +290,15 @@ function minetest.handle_node_drops(pos, drops, digger)
 	if digger:get_inventory() then
 		local _, dropped_item
 		for _, dropped_item in ipairs(drops) do
-			digger:get_inventory():add_item("main", dropped_item)
+			local left = digger:get_inventory():add_item("main", dropped_item)
+			if not left:is_empty() then
+				local p = {
+					x = pos.x + math.random()/2-0.25,
+					y = pos.y + math.random()/2-0.25,
+					z = pos.z + math.random()/2-0.25,
+				}
+				minetest.env:add_item(p, left)
+			end
 		end
 	end
 end
diff --git a/builtin/item_entity.lua b/builtin/item_entity.lua
index 46415e53..1699cb03 100644
--- a/builtin/item_entity.lua
+++ b/builtin/item_entity.lua
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@ minetest.register_entity("__builtin:item", {
 
 	on_punch = function(self, hitter)
 		if self.itemstring ~= '' then
-			hitter:get_inventory():add_item("main", self.itemstring)
+			local left = hitter:get_inventory():add_item("main", self.itemstring)
+			if not left:is_empty() then
+				return
+			end
 		end
 		self.object:remove()
 	end,