diff --git a/src/map.cpp b/src/map.cpp
index 303fffe70e549..829abfa892dd7 100644
--- a/src/map.cpp
+++ b/src/map.cpp
@@ -434,14 +434,33 @@ static bool sees_veh( const Creature &c, vehicle &veh, bool force_recalc )
 
 vehicle *map::move_vehicle( vehicle &veh, const tripoint &dp, const tileray &facing )
 {
-    const bool vertical = dp.z != 0;
-    if( ( dp.x == 0 && dp.y == 0 && dp.z == 0 ) ||
-        ( abs( dp.x ) > 1 || abs( dp.y ) > 1 || abs( dp.z ) > 1 ) ||
-        ( vertical && ( dp.x != 0 || dp.y != 0 ) ) ) {
-        debugmsg( "move_vehicle called with %d,%d,%d displacement vector", dp.x, dp.y, dp.z );
+    if( dp == tripoint_zero ) {
+        debugmsg( "Empty displacement vector" );
+        return &veh;
+    } else if( abs( dp.x ) > 1 || abs( dp.y ) > 1 || abs( dp.z ) > 1 ) {
+        debugmsg( "Invalid displacement vector: %d, %d, %d", dp.x, dp.y, dp.z );
         return &veh;
     }
 
+    // Split the movement into horizontal and vertical for easier processing
+    if( dp.xy() != point_zero && dp.z != 0 ) {
+        vehicle *const new_pointer = move_vehicle( veh, tripoint( dp.xy(), 0 ), facing );
+        if( !new_pointer ) {
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
+        vehicle *const result = move_vehicle( *new_pointer, tripoint( 0, 0, dp.z ), facing );
+        if( !result ) {
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
+        result->is_falling = false;
+        return result;
+    }
+    const bool vertical = dp.z != 0;
+    // Ensured by the splitting above
+    assert( vertical == ( dp.xy() == point_zero ) );
+
     const int target_z = dp.z + veh.sm_pos.z;
     if( target_z < -OVERMAP_DEPTH || target_z > OVERMAP_HEIGHT ) {
         return &veh;
diff --git a/src/monmove.cpp b/src/monmove.cpp
index e6116660ea521..b71c0145dd455 100644
--- a/src/monmove.cpp
+++ b/src/monmove.cpp
@@ -1876,6 +1876,9 @@ void monster::shove_vehicle( const tripoint &remote_destination,
                 veh.skidding = true;
                 veh.velocity = shove_velocity;
                 if( shove_destination != tripoint_zero ) {
+                    if( shove_destination.z != 0 ) {
+                        veh.vertical_velocity = shove_destination.z < 0 ? -shove_velocity : +shove_velocity;
+                    }
                     g->m.move_vehicle( veh, shove_destination, veh.face );
                 }
                 veh.move = tileray( destination_delta_x, destination_delta_y );
diff --git a/src/vehicle_move.cpp b/src/vehicle_move.cpp
index 3ecc5045dae30..d5b34ca5ed5f1 100644
--- a/src/vehicle_move.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle_move.cpp
@@ -1335,18 +1335,7 @@ vehicle *vehicle::act_on_map()
         dp.z = -1;
     }
 
-    vehicle *new_pointer = this;
-    // Split the movement into horizontal and vertical for easier processing
-    if( dp.x != 0 || dp.y != 0 ) {
-        new_pointer = g->m.move_vehicle( *new_pointer, tripoint( dp.xy(), 0 ), mdir );
-    }
-
-    if( new_pointer != nullptr && dp.z != 0 ) {
-        new_pointer = g->m.move_vehicle( *new_pointer, tripoint( 0, 0, dp.z ), mdir );
-        is_falling = false;
-    }
-
-    return new_pointer;
+    return g->m.move_vehicle( *this, dp, mdir );
 }
 
 void vehicle::check_falling_or_floating()