diff --git a/src/monattack.cpp b/src/monattack.cpp
index bc93510592f3a..6d3ff5cdfec1e 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -3366,6 +3366,9 @@ bool mattack::check_money_left( monster *z )
 
             if( !z->inv.empty() ) {
                 for( const item &it : z->inv ) {
+                    if( it.has_var( "DESTROY_ITEM_ON_MON_DEATH" ) ) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
                     get_map().add_item_or_charges( z->pos(), it );
                 }
                 z->inv.clear();
@@ -3809,6 +3812,7 @@ bool mattack::searchlight( monster *z )
 
             settings.set_var( "SL_SPOT_X", 0 );
             settings.set_var( "SL_SPOT_Y", 0 );
+            settings.set_var( "DESTROY_ITEM_ON_MON_DEATH", "TRUE" );
 
             z->add_item( settings );
         }
diff --git a/src/monexamine.cpp b/src/monexamine.cpp
index e57862ed10d6e..807638ea3b114 100644
--- a/src/monexamine.cpp
+++ b/src/monexamine.cpp
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ void dump_items( monster &z )
     Character &player_character = get_player_character();
     map &here = get_map();
     for( item &it : z.inv ) {
+        if( it.has_var( "DESTROY_ITEM_ON_MON_DEATH" ) ) {
+            continue;
+        }
         here.add_item_or_charges( player_character.pos(), it );
     }
     z.inv.clear();
diff --git a/src/monster.cpp b/src/monster.cpp
index 775fab5add148..c0b01164d1085 100644
--- a/src/monster.cpp
+++ b/src/monster.cpp
@@ -2671,6 +2671,9 @@ void monster::die( Creature *nkiller )
     }
     if( death_drops && !is_hallucination() ) {
         for( const item &it : inv ) {
+            if( it.has_var( "DESTROY_ITEM_ON_MON_DEATH" ) ) {
+                continue;
+            }
             if( corpse ) {
                 corpse->force_insert_item( it, item_pocket::pocket_type::CONTAINER );
             } else {
diff --git a/src/savegame_json.cpp b/src/savegame_json.cpp
index 7e85ed4658322..749454d637bf6 100644
--- a/src/savegame_json.cpp
+++ b/src/savegame_json.cpp
@@ -3058,9 +3058,16 @@ void item::io( Archive &archive )
         }
     }
 
-    // Remove stored translated gerund in favor of storing the inscription tool type
-    item_vars.erase( "item_label_type" );
-    item_vars.erase( "item_note_type" );
+    static const std::set<std::string> removed_item_vars = {
+        // Searchlight monster setting vars
+        "SL_PREFER_UP", "SL_PREFER_DOWN", "SL_PREFER_RIGHT", "SL_PREFER_LEFT", "SL_SPOT_X", "SL_SPOT_Y", "SL_POWER", "SL_DIR",
+        // Remove stored translated gerund in favor of storing the inscription tool type
+        "item_label_type", "item_note_type"
+    };
+
+    for( const std::string &var : removed_item_vars ) {
+        item_vars.erase( var );
+    }
 
     current_phase = static_cast<phase_id>( cur_phase );
     // override phase if frozen, needed for legacy save