diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index 0a335646446d8..a0347764be847 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -10879,7 +10879,7 @@ void game::water_affect_items( Character &ch ) const
                    && !loc.protected_from_liquids() ) {
             wet.emplace_back( loc );
         } else if( loc->typeId() == itype_towel && !loc.protected_from_liquids() ) {
-            loc->convert( itype_towel_wet );
+            loc->convert( itype_towel_wet ).active = true;
         }
     }