diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/LICENSE b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/LICENSE
index 42dbb9c7c..ab313312e 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/LICENSE
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/LICENSE
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 MIT License
 
 Copyright (c) 2022 ROllerozxa
-Copyright (c) 2024 Mikita 'rudzik8' Wiśniewski
+Copyright (c) 2024-2025 Mikita 'rudzik8' Wiśniewski
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/README.md b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/README.md
index 14a6a69c6..42ef4ddc1 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/README.md
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ You select them with the build key (right-click) as compared to with middle-clic
 ## License
 
 Copyright (C) 2022 ROllerozxa\
-Copyright (C) 2024 Mikita 'rudzik8' Wiśniewski
+Copyright (C) 2024-2025 Mikita 'rudzik8' Wiśniewski
 
 MIT (see `LICENSE` file)
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/init.lua
index a5a542d16..c1d88a305 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/init.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/init.lua
@@ -1,45 +1,41 @@
-local S = minetest.get_translator("vl_pickblock")
-
-local function pickblock(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+local function pickblock(_, placer, pointed_thing)
 	local node = minetest.get_node_or_nil(pointed_thing.under)
 	if not node then return end
 
 	local def = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
 	if not def then return end
 
-	local rnode
-	-- if this is an 'illegal' node and there's an explicit `_vl_pickblock` field, then return it
-	-- if the node isn't 'illegal', return it as-is
-	-- (and if it's 'illegal' and no `_vl_pickblock` is defined, well, bad luck)
 	local illegal = (def.groups.not_in_creative_inventory and def.groups.not_in_creative_inventory ~= 0)
-	if illegal then
-		if def._vl_pickblock then
-			rnode = def._vl_pickblock
-		end
-	else
+
+	local rnode
+	if def._vl_pickblock then
+		rnode = def._vl_pickblock
+	elseif not illegal then
 		rnode = node.name
+	else
+		-- node is illegal and has no _vl_pickblock, tough luck
+		return
 	end
 
 	-- check if the picked node is already on the hotbar
-	-- if so, notify the player
+	-- if so, remove it!
 	local inv = placer:get_inventory()
-	for i=1,placer:hud_get_hotbar_itemcount() do
+	for i = 1, placer:hud_get_hotbar_itemcount() do
 		local stack = inv:get_stack("main", i)
 		if stack:get_name() == rnode then
-			local msg = S("@1 is on slot @2", stack:get_short_description(), minetest.colorize(mcl_colors.YELLOW, i))
-			mcl_title.set(placer, "actionbar", {text = msg, stay = 30})
-			return
+			inv:set_stack("main", i, ItemStack())
+			break -- only remove one
 		end
 	end
 
 	return rnode
 end
 
+local old_on_place = minetest.registered_items[""].on_place
 minetest.override_item("", {
 	on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
-		if mcl_util.call_on_rightclick(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing) then
-			return
-		elseif minetest.is_creative_enabled(placer:get_player_name()) then
+		old_on_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+		if minetest.is_creative_enabled(placer:get_player_name()) then
 			return pickblock(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 		end
 	end
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/locale/template.txt b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/locale/template.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 0bcccddae..000000000
--- a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/locale/template.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-# textdomain: vl_pickblock
-@1 is on slot @2=
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/mod.conf b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/mod.conf
index efe5cd091..3a379a228 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/mod.conf
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/vl_pickblock/mod.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 name = vl_pickblock
 description = Allows you to put the selected node in an empty slot of your hotbar when you're in creative mode.
-depeds = mcl_util, mcl_colors, mcl_title
+depends = mcl_util, mcl_meshhand