diff --git a/data/json/npcs/TALK_COMMON_MISSION.json b/data/json/npcs/TALK_COMMON_MISSION.json
index cad5f5d537a8d..1b5bbd0f518ef 100644
--- a/data/json/npcs/TALK_COMMON_MISSION.json
+++ b/data/json/npcs/TALK_COMMON_MISSION.json
@@ -240,8 +240,12 @@
     "responses": [
       {
         "text": "Glad to help.  I need no payment.",
-        "effect": "clear_mission",
-        "success": { "topic": "TALK_NONE", "mission_opinion": { "trust": 4, "value": 3 }, "opinion": { "fear": -1, "anger": -1 } }
+        "success": {
+          "topic": "TALK_NONE",
+          "effect": "clear_mission",
+          "mission_opinion": { "trust": 4, "value": 3 },
+          "opinion": { "fear": -1, "anger": -1 }
+        }
       },
       {
         "text": "How about some items as payment?",
@@ -252,14 +256,16 @@
       {
         "text": "Maybe you can teach me something as payment?",
         "topic": "TALK_TRAIN",
-        "condition": { "or": [ "npc_train_skills", "npc_train_styles" ] },
-        "effect": "clear_mission"
+        "condition": { "or": [ "npc_train_skills", "npc_train_styles" ] }
       },
       {
         "text": "Glad to help.  I need no payment.  Bye!",
-        "topic": "TALK_DONE",
-        "effect": "clear_mission",
-        "success": { "topic": "TALK_DONE", "mission_opinion": { "trust": 4, "value": 3 }, "opinion": { "fear": -1, "anger": -1 } }
+        "success": {
+          "topic": "TALK_DONE",
+          "effect": "clear_mission",
+          "mission_opinion": { "trust": 4, "value": 3 },
+          "opinion": { "fear": -1, "anger": -1 }
+        }
       }
     ]
   },
diff --git a/src/npctalk.cpp b/src/npctalk.cpp
index c2db000d68690..a402ea98ed576 100644
--- a/src/npctalk.cpp
+++ b/src/npctalk.cpp
@@ -1661,11 +1661,13 @@ void talk_effect_t::set_effect( talkfunction_ptr ptr )
 
 talk_topic talk_effect_t::apply( dialogue &d ) const
 {
+    // Need to get a reference to the mission before effects are applied, because effects can remove the mission
+    mission *miss = d.beta->chatbin.mission_selected;
+
     for( const talk_effect_fun_t &effect: effects ) {
         effect( d );
     }
     d.beta->op_of_u += opinion;
-    mission *miss = d.beta->chatbin.mission_selected;
     if( miss && ( mission_opinion.trust || mission_opinion.fear ||
         mission_opinion.value || mission_opinion.anger ) ) {
         int m_value = cash_to_favor( *d.beta, miss->get_value() );