diff --git a/src/magic.cpp b/src/magic.cpp
index e64921c4aadc4..73f4611e11b24 100644
--- a/src/magic.cpp
+++ b/src/magic.cpp
@@ -1343,11 +1343,6 @@ float spell::spell_fail( const Character &guy ) const
     if( has_flag( spell_flag::NO_FAIL ) ) {
         return 0.0f;
     }
-    if( type->magic_type.has_value() &&
-        type->magic_type.value()->failure_chance_formula_id.has_value() ) {
-        const_dialogue d( get_const_talker_for( guy ), nullptr );
-        return type->magic_type.value()->failure_chance_formula_id.value()->eval( d );
-    }
 
     const bool is_psi = has_flag( spell_flag::PSIONIC );
 
@@ -1390,15 +1385,26 @@ float spell::spell_fail( const Character &guy ) const
                                          static_cast<float>( 45 ) );
         }
     }
+    bool has_type_fail_chance = type->magic_type.has_value() &&
+                                type->magic_type.value()->failure_chance_formula_id.has_value();
     // add an if statement in here because sufficiently large numbers will definitely overflow because of exponents
-    if( ( effective_skill > 30.0f && !is_psi ) || ( psi_effective_skill > 40.0f && is_psi ) ) {
-        return 0.0f;
-    } else if( ( effective_skill < 0.0f && !is_psi ) || ( psi_effective_skill < 0.0f && is_psi ) ) {
-        return 1.0f;
+    if( !has_type_fail_chance ) {
+        if( ( effective_skill > 30.0f && !is_psi ) || ( psi_effective_skill > 40.0f && is_psi ) ) {
+            return 0.0f;
+        } else if( ( effective_skill < 0.0f && !is_psi ) || ( psi_effective_skill < 0.0f && is_psi ) ) {
+            return 1.0f;
+        }
     }
 
-    float fail_chance = std::pow( ( effective_skill - 30.0f ) / 30.0f, 2 );
-    float psi_fail_chance = std::pow( ( psi_effective_skill - 40.0f ) / 40.0f, 2 );
+    float fail_chance = 0;
+    if( has_type_fail_chance ) {
+        const_dialogue d( get_const_talker_for( guy ), nullptr );
+        fail_chance = type->magic_type.value()->failure_chance_formula_id.value()->eval( d );
+    } else if( is_psi ) {
+        fail_chance = std::pow( ( psi_effective_skill - 40.0f ) / 40.0f, 2 );
+    } else {
+        fail_chance = std::pow( ( effective_skill - 30.0f ) / 30.0f, 2 );
+    }
 
     if( !is_psi ) {
         if( has_flag( spell_flag::SOMATIC ) &&
@@ -1429,10 +1435,9 @@ float spell::spell_fail( const Character &guy ) const
             return 1.0f;
         }
         fail_chance /= 1.0f - concentration_loss;
-        psi_fail_chance /= 1.0f - concentration_loss;
     }
 
-    return clamp( is_psi ? psi_fail_chance : fail_chance, 0.0f, 1.0f );
+    return clamp( fail_chance, 0.0f, 1.0f );
 }
 
 std::string spell::colorized_fail_percent( const Character &guy ) const