diff --git a/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp b/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
index 546dd3d23..37d4c1c70 100644
--- a/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
+++ b/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ bool CanTargetMonster(const Monster &monster)
 		return false;
 	if (monster.isPlayerMinion())
 		return false;
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) // dead
+	if (monster.hasNoLife()) // dead
 		return false;
 
 	if (!IsTileLit(monster.position.tile)) // not visible
diff --git a/Source/cursor.cpp b/Source/cursor.cpp
index 428e982a0..fa4cef28a 100644
--- a/Source/cursor.cpp
+++ b/Source/cursor.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ OptionalOwnedClxSpriteList *HalfSizeItemSpritesRed;
 
 bool IsValidMonsterForSelection(const Monster &monster)
 {
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
+	if (monster.hasNoLife())
 		return false;
 	if ((monster.flags & MFLAG_HIDDEN) != 0)
 		return false;
diff --git a/Source/missiles.cpp b/Source/missiles.cpp
index 2891a7a77..f4733157f 100644
--- a/Source/missiles.cpp
+++ b/Source/missiles.cpp
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ bool MonsterMHit(const Player &player, Monster &monster, int mindam, int maxdam,
 	if (&player == MyPlayer)
 		ApplyMonsterDamage(damageType, monster, dam);
 
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
+	if (monster.hasNoLife()) {
 		M_StartKill(monster, player);
 	} else if (resist) {
 		monster.tag(player);
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ bool GuardianTryFireAt(Missile &missile, Point target)
 	const Monster &monster = Monsters[mid];
 	if (monster.isPlayerMinion())
 		return false;
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
+	if (monster.hasNoLife())
 		return false;
 
 	const Player &player = Players[missile._misource];
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ bool MonsterTrapHit(Monster &monster, int mindam, int maxdam, int dist, MissileI
 	if (DebugGodMode)
 		monster.hitPoints = 0;
 #endif
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
+	if (monster.hasNoLife()) {
 		MonsterDeath(monster, monster.direction, true);
 	} else if (resist) {
 		PlayEffect(monster, MonsterSound::Hit);
diff --git a/Source/monster.cpp b/Source/monster.cpp
index f1ea88430..5d586cfe6 100644
--- a/Source/monster.cpp
+++ b/Source/monster.cpp
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ void UpdateEnemy(Monster &monster)
 		Monster &otherMonster = Monsters[monsterId];
 		if (&otherMonster == &monster)
 			continue;
-		if ((otherMonster.hitPoints >> 6) <= 0)
+		if (otherMonster.hasNoLife())
 			continue;
 		if (otherMonster.position.tile == GolemHoldingCell)
 			continue;
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ void MonsterAttackMonster(Monster &attacker, Monster &target, int hper, int mind
 		target.tag(player);
 	}
 
-	if (target.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
+	if (target.hasNoLife()) {
 		StartDeathFromMonster(attacker, target);
 	} else {
 		MonsterHitMonster(attacker, target, dam);
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ int CheckReflect(Monster &monster, Player &player, int dam)
 	// reflects 20-30% damage
 	const int mdam = dam * RandomIntBetween(20, 30, true) / 100;
 	ApplyMonsterDamage(DamageType::Physical, monster, mdam);
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
+	if (monster.hasNoLife())
 		M_StartKill(monster, player);
 	else
 		M_StartHit(monster, player, mdam);
@@ -1230,7 +1230,7 @@ void MonsterAttackPlayer(Monster &monster, Player &player, int hit, int minDam,
 	if (HasAnyOf(player._pIFlags, ItemSpecialEffect::Thorns) && monster.mode != MonsterMode::Death) {
 		const int mdam = (GenerateRnd(3) + 1) << 6;
 		ApplyMonsterDamage(DamageType::Physical, monster, mdam);
-		if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
+		if (monster.hasNoLife())
 			M_StartKill(monster, player);
 		else
 			M_StartHit(monster, player, mdam);
@@ -3782,7 +3782,7 @@ void ApplyMonsterDamage(DamageType damageType, Monster &monster, int damage)
 
 	monster.hitPoints -= damage;
 
-	if (monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0) {
+	if (monster.hasNoLife()) {
 		delta_kill_monster(monster, monster.position.tile, *MyPlayer);
 		NetSendCmdLocParam1(false, CMD_MONSTDEATH, monster.position.tile, static_cast<uint16_t>(monster.getId()));
 		return;
@@ -4139,7 +4139,7 @@ void ProcessMonsters()
 			SetRndSeed(monster.aiSeed);
 			monster.aiSeed = AdvanceRndSeed();
 		}
-		if (monster.hitPoints < monster.maxHitPoints && monster.hitPoints >> 6 > 0) {
+		if (monster.hitPoints < monster.maxHitPoints && !monster.hasNoLife()) {
 			if (monster.level(sgGameInitInfo.nDifficulty) > 1) {
 				monster.hitPoints += monster.level(sgGameInitInfo.nDifficulty) / 2;
 			} else {
@@ -4404,7 +4404,7 @@ void M_FallenFear(Point position)
 		if (m == 0)
 			continue;
 		Monster &monster = Monsters[std::abs(m) - 1];
-		if (monster.ai != MonsterAIID::Fallen || monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0)
+		if (monster.ai != MonsterAIID::Fallen || monster.hasNoLife())
 			continue;
 
 		const int runDistance = std::max((8 - monster.data().level), 2);
@@ -4908,7 +4908,7 @@ bool Monster::isPlayerMinion() const
 
 bool Monster::isPossibleToHit() const
 {
-	return hitPoints >> 6 > 0
+	return !hasNoLife()
 	    && talkMsg == TEXT_NONE
 	    && (type().type != MT_ILLWEAV || goal != MonsterGoal::Retreat)
 	    && !(IsAnyOf(mode, MonsterMode::Charge, MonsterMode::Death))
diff --git a/Source/monster.h b/Source/monster.h
index 1e1fb7427..6b3ef4303 100644
--- a/Source/monster.h
+++ b/Source/monster.h
@@ -476,6 +476,11 @@ struct Monster { // note: missing field _mAFNum
 	 * @param isMoving specifies whether the monster is moving or not (true/moving results in a negative index in dMonster)
 	 */
 	void occupyTile(Point tile, bool isMoving) const;
+
+	bool hasNoLife() const
+	{
+		return hitPoints >> 6 <= 0;
+	}
 };
 
 extern size_t LevelMonsterTypeCount;
diff --git a/Source/player.cpp b/Source/player.cpp
index a234a1f4d..69dc2039f 100644
--- a/Source/player.cpp
+++ b/Source/player.cpp
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ bool PlrHitMonst(Player &player, Monster &monster, bool adjacentDamage = false)
 		}
 		RedrawComponent(PanelDrawComponent::Health);
 	}
-	if ((monster.hitPoints >> 6) <= 0) {
+	if (monster.hasNoLife()) {
 		M_StartKill(monster, player);
 	} else {
 		if (monster.mode != MonsterMode::Petrified && HasAnyOf(player._pIFlags, ItemSpecialEffect::Knockback))
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ void CheckNewPath(Player &player, bool pmWillBeCalled)
 	case ACTION_RATTACKMON:
 	case ACTION_SPELLMON:
 		monster = &Monsters[targetId];
-		if ((monster->hitPoints >> 6) <= 0) {
+		if (monster->hasNoLife()) {
 			player.Stop();
 			return;
 		}
@@ -3110,7 +3110,7 @@ bool PosOkPlayer(const Player &player, Point position)
 		if (dMonster[position.x][position.y] <= 0) {
 			return false;
 		}
-		if ((Monsters[dMonster[position.x][position.y] - 1].hitPoints >> 6) > 0) {
+		if (!Monsters[dMonster[position.x][position.y] - 1].hasNoLife()) {
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/Source/track.cpp b/Source/track.cpp
index d2f9bfe17..222d71f36 100644
--- a/Source/track.cpp
+++ b/Source/track.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void InvalidateTargets()
 {
 	if (pcursmonst != -1) {
 		const Monster &monster = Monsters[pcursmonst];
-		if (monster.isInvalid || monster.hitPoints >> 6 <= 0
+		if (monster.isInvalid || monster.hasNoLife()
 		    || (monster.flags & MFLAG_HIDDEN) != 0
 		    || !IsTileLit(monster.position.tile)) {
 			pcursmonst = -1;