diff --git a/engines/dreamweb/segment.h b/engines/dreamweb/segment.h
index 9464015478c..65bc2335ea7 100644
--- a/engines/dreamweb/segment.h
+++ b/engines/dreamweb/segment.h
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	inline ~WordRef() {
+		// FIXME: This is _too late_ to write back the
+		// value. Example: in the call
+		// printDirect(data.word(kLastxpos), .....)
+		// the destructor isn't called until after printDirect returns. This
+		// destroys the modifications to lastXPos that printDirect makes.
 		_data[0] = _value & 0xff;
 		_data[1] = _value >> 8;
 		_value = _data[0] | (_data[1] << 8);
diff --git a/engines/dreamweb/use.cpp b/engines/dreamweb/use.cpp
index 4be3c7a6b32..ba1e8e4952b 100644
--- a/engines/dreamweb/use.cpp
+++ b/engines/dreamweb/use.cpp
@@ -1581,7 +1581,8 @@ void DreamGenContext::withWhat() {
 
 	copyName(data.byte(kObjecttype), data.byte(kCommand), commandLine);
 	printMessage2(100, 21, 63, 200, false, 2);
-	printDirect(commandLine, data.word(kLastxpos) + 5, 21, 220, false);
+	uint16 x = data.word(kLastxpos) + 5;
+	printDirect(commandLine, x, 21, 220, false);
 	printMessage2(data.word(kLastxpos) + 5, 21, 63, 200, false, 3);
 
 	fillRyan();