diff --git a/server/skills.c b/server/skills.c
index 824c4c3..d57e2ca 100644
--- a/server/skills.c
+++ b/server/skills.c
@@ -1792,7 +1792,23 @@ static object *find_throw_ob(object *op, const char *request) {
         }
     }
 
-    /* look through the inventory */
+    /* look through the inventory for high-priority throwables first */
+    if (tmp == NULL) {
+        for (tmp = op->inv; tmp != NULL; tmp = tmp->below) {
+            if (!(tmp->type == WEAPON || tmp->subtype == POT_THROW || tmp->subtype == POT_DUST))
+                continue;
+            /* can't toss invisible or inv-locked items */
+            if (tmp->invisible || QUERY_FLAG(tmp, FLAG_INV_LOCKED))
+                continue;
+            query_name(tmp, name, MAX_BUF);
+            if (!request
+                || !strcmp(name, request)
+                || !strcmp(tmp->name, request))
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /* look through the inventory for others */
     if (tmp == NULL) {
         for (tmp = op->inv; tmp != NULL; tmp = tmp->below) {
             /* can't toss invisible or inv-locked items */