diff --git a/builtin/game/item.lua b/builtin/game/item.lua
index 09e3ea999..d4ce6002f 100644
--- a/builtin/game/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/item.lua
@@ -519,7 +519,8 @@ function core.handle_node_drops(pos, drops, digger)
 		end
 	else
 		give_item = function(item)
-			return item
+			-- itemstring to ItemStack for left:is_empty()
+			return ItemStack(item)
 		end
 	end