diff --git a/lisp/l/hashtab.l b/lisp/l/hashtab.l
index 525b9ce5d..047482991 100644
--- a/lisp/l/hashtab.l
+++ b/lisp/l/hashtab.l
@@ -48,15 +48,15 @@
 	 (when (> count (/ size rehash-size))
 	     (send self :extend)
 	     (setq entry (send self :find sym))  )
-	 (inc count)
-	 (setq entry (- entry size)))
+	 (setq entry (- entry size))
+	 (if (eq (svref key entry) empty)
+	     (inc count)))
       (svset key entry sym)
       (svset value entry val)
       val))
  (:delete (sym)
     (let ((pos (send self :find sym)) (i 0))
       (when (< pos size) 
-	(dec count)
 	(svset key pos deleted)
 	(svset value pos nil)))    )
  (:extend ()