diff --git a/lib/Lacuna/AI/DeLambert.pm b/lib/Lacuna/AI/DeLambert.pm
index 07ee6bba..877ccfc9 100644
--- a/lib/Lacuna/AI/DeLambert.pm
+++ b/lib/Lacuna/AI/DeLambert.pm
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ sub buy_trade {
         my $offer_ship = Lacuna->db->resultset('Lacuna::DB::Result::Ships')->find($trade->ship_id);
         return if not defined $offer_ship;
 
-        $empire->transfer_essentia({
+        $self->empire->transfer_essentia({
             amount      => $trade->ask,
             from_reason => 'Trade Price',
             to_empire   => $trade->body->empire,
diff --git a/lib/Lacuna/DB/Result/Empire.pm b/lib/Lacuna/DB/Result/Empire.pm
index 50f42ac4..ac786925 100644
--- a/lib/Lacuna/DB/Result/Empire.pm
+++ b/lib/Lacuna/DB/Result/Empire.pm
@@ -249,12 +249,14 @@ sub transfer_essentia {
         reason          => $args->{from_reason},
         other_empire    => $args->{to_empire},
     });
+    $self->update;
     my $to_empire = $args->{to_empire};
     $to_empire->add_essentia({
         amount          => $args->{amount},
         reason          => $args->{to_reason},
         other_empire    => $self,
     });
+    $to_empire->update;
 }
 
 sub _adjust_essentia {
diff --git a/lib/Lacuna/RPC/Building/MercenariesGuild.pm b/lib/Lacuna/RPC/Building/MercenariesGuild.pm
index f87c1e42..9b31438b 100644
--- a/lib/Lacuna/RPC/Building/MercenariesGuild.pm
+++ b/lib/Lacuna/RPC/Building/MercenariesGuild.pm
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ sub add_to_market {
     $empire->spend_essentia({
         amount      => $cost,
         reason      => 'Offered Mercenary Trade',
-    )->update;
+    });
+    $empire->update;
     return {
         trade_id    => $trade->id,
         status      => $self->format_status($empire, $building->body),