diff --git a/hooks/pre-commit b/hooks/pre-commit
index 4baa6cf3..7e823659 100644
--- a/hooks/pre-commit
+++ b/hooks/pre-commit
@@ -8,11 +8,17 @@ else
 	against=4b825dc642cb6eb9a060e54bf8d69288fbee4904
 fi
 
-# Remove trailing commas from `public` directives. These crash on TASM32
-# version 5.0, but work on later versions.
+# Remove trailing commas from `public` directives, as well as `public`
+# directives without arguments. These crash on TASM32 version 5.0, but work on
+# later versions.
 for f in `git diff-index --name-only --cached --diff-filter=ACMRX ${against} | grep \.asm$ -i`; do
 	if [ -n "$(sed -b -i -E 's/(public\s+[^;]+?),\s*(;.*)?$/\1\2/w /dev/stdout' "$f")" ]; then
 		echo "$f"': removed a trailing comma from a `public` line, please re-stage.'
 		exit 1
 	fi
+	if grep -q -E "^public$" "$f"; then
+		sed -b -i -E '/^public\r?$/d' "$f"
+		echo "$f"': removed a symbol-less `public`, please re-stage.'
+		exit 1
+	fi
 done
diff --git a/th02_main.asm b/th02_main.asm
index d222be34..543e9382 100644
--- a/th02_main.asm
+++ b/th02_main.asm
@@ -29710,7 +29710,6 @@ _ITEM_PATNUM label byte
 include th02/main/power_overflow[data].asm
 _item_skill	dw 0
 
-public
 public _ITEM_MISS_VELOCITY_Y_CENTER
 _ITEM_MISS_VELOCITY_Y_SIDES 	db 0B0h, 0BCh, 0C8h, 0D4h, 0E0h
 _ITEM_MISS_VELOCITY_X_CENTER	db -2, -1, 0, 1, 2