diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
index 9a5e77f9d..282c186fd 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/spawning.lua
@@ -753,80 +753,74 @@ end
 
 local function spawn_check(pos, spawn_def)
 	if not spawn_def or not pos then return end
-
 	dbg_spawn_attempts = dbg_spawn_attempts + 1
+
 	local dimension = mcl_worlds.pos_to_dimension(pos)
-	local mob_def = minetest.registered_entities[spawn_def.name]
-	local mob_type = mob_def.type
+	if spawn_def.dimension ~= dimension then return end -- wrong dimension
+	-- find ground node below spawn position
 	local gotten_node = get_node(pos).name
 	if not gotten_node then return end
-
-	local is_ground = minetest.get_item_group(gotten_node,"solid") ~= 0
-	if not is_ground then
+	local is_ground = get_item_group(gotten_node,"solid") ~= 0
+	if not is_ground then -- try node one below instead
 		pos.y = pos.y - 1
 		gotten_node = get_node(pos).name
-		is_ground = minetest.get_item_group(gotten_node,"solid") ~= 0
+		is_ground = get_item_group(gotten_node,"solid") ~= 0
 	end
 	pos.y = pos.y + 1
-	local is_water = get_item_group(gotten_node, "water") ~= 0
-	local is_lava  = get_item_group(gotten_node, "lava") ~= 0
-	local is_leaf  = get_item_group(gotten_node, "leaves") ~= 0
-	local is_bedrock  = gotten_node == "mcl_core:bedrock"
-	local is_grass = minetest.get_item_group(gotten_node,"grass_block") ~= 0
+	-- check spawn height
+	if pos.y < spawn_def.min_height or pos.y > spawn_def.max_height then return end
+	mcl_log("spawn_check#1 position checks passed")
 
-	if pos.y >= spawn_def.min_height
-			and pos.y <= spawn_def.max_height
-			and spawn_def.dimension == dimension
-			and biome_check(spawn_def.biomes, get_biome_name(pos)) then
+	-- do not spawn on bedrock
+	if gotten_node == "mcl_core:bedrock" then return end
+	-- do not spawn ground mobs on leaves
+	if spawn_def.type_of_spawning == "ground" and (not is_ground or get_item_group(gotten_node, "leaves") ~= 0) then return end
+	-- farm animals on grass only
+	if is_farm_animal(spawn_def.name) and get_item_group(gotten_node, "grass_block") == 0 then return end
+	-- water mobs only on water
+	if spawn_def.type_of_spawning == "water" and get_item_group(gotten_node, "water") == 0 then return end
+	-- lava mobs only on lava
+	if spawn_def.type_of_spawning == "lava" and get_item_group(gotten_node, "lava") == 0 then return end
 
-		mcl_log("Spawn level 1 check - Passed")
-		if  (is_ground or spawn_def.type_of_spawning ~= "ground")
-				and (spawn_def.type_of_spawning ~= "ground" or not is_leaf)
-				and (not is_farm_animal(spawn_def.name) or is_grass)
-				and (spawn_def.type_of_spawning ~= "water" or is_water)
-				and not is_bedrock
-				and has_room(mob_def,pos)
-				and (spawn_def.check_position and spawn_def.check_position(pos) or spawn_def.check_position == nil)
-				and ( not spawn_protected or not minetest.is_protected(pos, "") ) then
+	---- More expensive calls:
+	-- check the biome
+	if not biome_check(spawn_def.biomes, get_biome_name(pos)) then return end
+	-- check if there is enough room
+	local mob_def = minetest.registered_entities[spawn_def.name]
+	if not has_room(mob_def,pos) then return end
+	-- additional checks (slime etc.)
+	if spawn_def.check_position and not spawn_def.check_position(pos) then return end
+	if spawn_protected and minetest.is_protected(pos, "") then return end
+	mcl_log("spawn_check#2 advanced checks passed")
 
-			mcl_log("Spawn level 2 check - Passed")
-			local gotten_light = get_node_light(pos)
+	-- check light thresholds
+	local gotten_light = get_node_light(pos)
+	-- old lighting
+	if not modern_lighting then return gotten_light >= spawn_def.min_light and gotten_light <= spawn_def.max_light end
 
-			if modern_lighting then
-				local my_node = get_node(pos)
-				local sky_light = minetest.get_natural_light(pos)
-				local art_light = minetest.get_artificial_light(my_node.param1)
-
-				if mob_def.spawn_check then
-					return mob_def.spawn_check(pos, gotten_light, art_light, sky_light)
-				elseif mob_type == "monster" then
-					if dimension == "nether" then
-						if art_light <= nether_threshold then
-							return true
-						end
-					elseif dimension == "end" then
-						if art_light <= end_threshold then
-							return true
-						end
-					elseif dimension == "overworld" then
-						if art_light <= overworld_threshold and sky_light <= overworld_sky_threshold then
-							return true
-						end
-					end
-				else
-					-- passive threshold is apparently the same in all dimensions ...
-					if gotten_light > overworld_passive_threshold then
-						return true
-					end
-				end
-			else
-				if gotten_light >= spawn_def.min_light and gotten_light <= spawn_def.max_light then
-					return true
-				end
+	local sky_light = minetest.get_natural_light(pos)
+	local art_light = minetest.get_artificial_light(get_node(pos).param1)
+	if mob_def.spawn_check then
+		return mob_def.spawn_check(pos, gotten_light, art_light, sky_light)
+	end
+	if mob_def.type == "monster" then
+		if dimension == "nether" then
+			if art_light <= nether_threshold then
+				return true
+			end
+		elseif dimension == "end" then
+			if art_light <= end_threshold then
+				return true
+			end
+		elseif dimension == "overworld" then
+			if art_light <= overworld_threshold and sky_light <= overworld_sky_threshold then
+				return true
 			end
 		end
+		return false
 	end
-	return false
+	-- passive threshold is apparently the same in all dimensions ...
+	return gotten_light > overworld_passive_threshold
 end
 
 function mcl_mobs.spawn(pos,id)
@@ -834,11 +828,7 @@ function mcl_mobs.spawn(pos,id)
 	if not def or (def.can_spawn and not def.can_spawn(pos)) or not def.is_mob then
 		return false
 	end
-	if not dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] then
-		dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] = 1
-	else
-		dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] = dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] + 1
-	end
+	dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] = (dbg_spawn_counts[def.name] or 0) + 1
 	return minetest.add_entity(pos, def.name)
 end