diff --git a/zone/task_client_state.cpp b/zone/task_client_state.cpp
index 35cd666ad..8198e3e68 100644
--- a/zone/task_client_state.cpp
+++ b/zone/task_client_state.cpp
@@ -979,13 +979,15 @@ void ClientTaskState::RewardTask(Client *client, const TaskInformation *task_inf
 	const EQ::ItemData *item_data;
 	std::vector<int>   reward_list;
 
-	for (auto &i: Strings::Split("|", task_information->reward_id_list)) {
-		auto    item_id = std::stoi(i);
-		int16_t slot    = client->GetInv().FindFreeSlot(false, true);
-		client->SummonItem(item_id, -1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, false, slot);
-		item_data = database.GetItem(item_id);
-		if (item_data) {
-			client->MessageString(Chat::Yellow, YOU_HAVE_BEEN_GIVEN, item_data->Name);
+	for (auto &i: Strings::Split(task_information->reward_id_list, "|")) {
+		auto    item_id = Strings::IsNumber(i) ? std::stoi(i) : 0;
+		if (item_id > 0) {
+			int16_t slot    = client->GetInv().FindFreeSlot(false, true);
+			client->SummonItem(item_id, -1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, false, slot);
+			item_data = database.GetItem(item_id);
+			if (item_data) {
+				client->MessageString(Chat::Yellow, YOU_HAVE_BEEN_GIVEN, item_data->Name);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/zone/task_manager.cpp b/zone/task_manager.cpp
index 4e4dc3102..e7694ad79 100644
--- a/zone/task_manager.cpp
+++ b/zone/task_manager.cpp
@@ -1127,9 +1127,9 @@ void TaskManager::SendActiveTaskDescription(
 	// is specified). I have been unable to get multiple item links to work.
 	//
 	if (!t->reward_id_list.empty() && t->item_link.empty()) {
-		auto items   = Strings::Split("|", t->reward_id_list);
+		auto items   = Strings::Split(t->reward_id_list, "|");
 		auto item    = items.front();
-		int  item_id = std::stoi(items.front());
+		int  item_id = Strings::IsNumber(items.front()) ? std::stoi(items.front()) : 0;
 
 		if (item_id) {
 			const EQ::ItemData *reward_item = database.GetItem(item_id);