diff --git a/test/test-process-input b/test/test-process-input
index 2e54150..dafec75 100755
--- a/test/test-process-input
+++ b/test/test-process-input
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ OBJECT door
     ACTION multi
         $multiactions
 
+OBJECT foo
+    ACTION bar
+        MSG Foo bar
+OBJECT cow
+    ACTION moo
+        MSG MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
+
 STORY
 This is a test scene.
 "
@@ -69,7 +76,7 @@ assert-equal "$( tryinput "open door" )" "GO $scene_opendoor" || {
 
 # actions on unknown objects should simply output an empty string
 assert-equal "$( tryinput "open idkwhat" )" "" || {
-    simplefail "Should not be able to perform actions on unknown objects"
+    fail "Should not be able to perform actions on unknown objects"
 }
 
 # unknown actions on known objects should simply output an empty string
@@ -83,3 +90,14 @@ assert-equal "$( tryinput "multi door" )" "$expected" || {
     fail "All commands for a multi-line action should be returned"
 }
 
+# should not fall through to another object (action exists in object below the
+# first)
+assert-equal "$( tryinput "bar door" )" "" || {
+    fail "Actions should not fall through to other objects"
+}
+
+# fallthrough shouldn't occur if no newline separates objects
+assert-equal "$( tryinput "moo foo" )" "" || {
+    fail "Actions should not fall through to other objects (missing nl)"
+}
+
diff --git a/util/process-input b/util/process-input
index 4a2689f..c2dde11 100755
--- a/util/process-input
+++ b/util/process-input
@@ -45,9 +45,14 @@ object=$( cut -d' ' -f2 <<< "$words" )
 # check for am action on a known object and output the associated commands, left
 # trimmed
 awk "
-    /OBJECT $object/,/^$/ {
+    /OBJECT $object/ {
         found = 1
+        getline
     }
+    found && /^[ \\t]*$|^[A-Z]/ {
+        found = 0
+    }
+
     /^(    |\\t)ACTION $action$/ {
         if ( found ) {
             getline