diff --git a/reg3.cpp b/reg3.cpp
index 6b32ce5e..dd1a8e69 100644
--- a/reg3.cpp
+++ b/reg3.cpp
@@ -1974,7 +1974,7 @@ EX namespace reg3 {
     bool ruleset_link_alt(heptagon *h, heptagon *alt, hstate firststate, int dir) {
       alt->fieldval = h->fieldval;
       if(firststate == hsOrigin) {
-        alt->fiftyval = root[alt->fieldval];
+        alt->fiftyval = root[alt->fieldval % isize(root)];
         return true;
         }
       vector<int>& choices = possible_states[alt->fieldval];
diff --git a/rulegen3.cpp b/rulegen3.cpp
index 243fbac7..7b962ee4 100644
--- a/rulegen3.cpp
+++ b/rulegen3.cpp
@@ -352,6 +352,10 @@ int readRuleArgs3() {
     reg3::subrule = true;
     }
 
+  else if(argis("-less-states")) {
+    shift(); rulegen::less_states = argi();
+    }
+
   else return 1;
   return 0;
   }