diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 7269a120d2..795d531583 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 - ``Units::getReadableName``: correct display of ghost+curse names w/r/t each other and unit prof, use ``curse.name`` instead of iterating syndrome name effects
 - `autodump`: cancel active job on dumped items
 - `add-spatter`: fix a crash related to unloading a savegame with add-spatter reactions, then loading a second savegame with add-spatter reactions
+- adjust semantics of vmethod interpose maps to avoid inserting null pointers
 
 ## Misc Improvements
 - `tweak`: improve performance of ``adamantine-cloth-wear`` tweak
diff --git a/library/VTableInterpose.cpp b/library/VTableInterpose.cpp
index 9522cb2405..2bcfac7ff9 100644
--- a/library/VTableInterpose.cpp
+++ b/library/VTableInterpose.cpp
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ void VMethodInterposeLinkBase::on_host_delete(const virtual_identity *from)
     {
         // Otherwise, drop the link to that child:
         assert(child_hosts.count(from) != 0 &&
-               from->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == this);
+               from->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == this); // while mutating this gets cleaned up below so machts nichts
 
         // Find and restore the original vmethod ptr
         auto last = this;
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ void VMethodInterposeLinkBase::on_host_delete(const virtual_identity *from)
 
         // Unlink the chains
         child_hosts.erase(from);
-        from->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] = NULL;
+        from->interpose_list.erase(vmethod_idx);
     }
 }
 
@@ -434,8 +434,10 @@ bool VMethodInterposeLinkBase::apply(bool enable)
     }
 
     // Retrieve the current vtable entry
-    VMethodInterposeLinkBase *old_link = host->interpose_list[vmethod_idx];
-    VMethodInterposeLinkBase *next_link = NULL;
+    auto l = host->interpose_list.find(vmethod_idx);
+
+    VMethodInterposeLinkBase* old_link = (l != host->interpose_list.end()) ? (l->second) : nullptr;
+    VMethodInterposeLinkBase* next_link = NULL;
 
     while (old_link && old_link->host == host && old_link->priority > priority)
     {
@@ -529,7 +531,7 @@ bool VMethodInterposeLinkBase::apply(bool enable)
     for (auto it = child_hosts.begin(); it != child_hosts.end(); ++it)
     {
         auto nhost = *it;
-        assert(nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == old_link);
+        assert(nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == old_link); // acceptable due to assign below
         nhost->set_vmethod_ptr(patcher, vmethod_idx, interpose_method);
         nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] = this;
     }
@@ -586,7 +588,7 @@ void VMethodInterposeLinkBase::remove()
         for (auto it = child_hosts.begin(); it != child_hosts.end(); ++it)
         {
             auto nhost = *it;
-            assert(nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == this);
+            assert(nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] == this); // acceptable due to assign below
             nhost->interpose_list[vmethod_idx] = prev;
             nhost->set_vmethod_ptr(patcher, vmethod_idx, saved_chain);
             if (prev)