diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_ocean/kelp.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_ocean/kelp.lua
index 3aefe85f8e..bbdae64eef 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_ocean/kelp.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_ocean/kelp.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 -- TODO: whenever it becomes possible to fully implement kelp without the
 -- plantlike_rooted limitation, please update accordingly.
 --
+-- TODO: whenever it becomes possible to make kelp grow infinitely without
+-- resorting to making intermediate kelp stem node, please update accordingly.
+--
 -- TODO: In MC, you can't actually destroy kelp by bucket'ing water in the middle.
 -- However, because of the plantlike_rooted hack, we'll just allow it for now.
 
@@ -191,17 +194,18 @@ end
 
 
 -- Converts param2 to kelp height.
+-- For the special case where the max param2 is reached, interpret that as the
+-- 16th kelp stem.
 function kelp.get_height(param2)
-	return math_floor(param2 / 16)
+	return param2 ~= 255 and math_floor(param2 / 16) or 16 -- 256/16
 end
 
 
 -- Obtain pos and node of the tip of kelp.
-function kelp.get_tip(pos, param2)
-	-- Optional params: param2
-	local height = kelp.get_height(param2 or mt_get_node(pos).param2)
-	local pos_tip = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
-	pos_tip.y = pos_tip.y + height + 1
+function kelp.get_tip(pos, height)
+	-- Optional params: height
+	local height = height or kelp.get_height(mt_get_node(pos).param2)
+	local pos_tip = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y+height+1, z=pos.z}
 	return pos_tip, mt_get_node(pos_tip), height
 end
 
@@ -227,7 +231,8 @@ end
 
 -- Obtain next param2.
 function kelp.next_param2(param2)
-	return param2+16 - param2 % 16
+	-- param2 max value is 255, so adding to 256 causes overflow.
+	return math_min(param2+16 - param2 % 16, 255);
 end
 
 
@@ -526,7 +531,7 @@ function kelp.kelp_on_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 
 	-- When placed on kelp.
 	if mt_get_item_group(nu_name, "kelp") == 1 then
-		pos_tip,node_tip = kelp.get_tip(pos_under, node_under.param2)
+		pos_tip,node_tip = kelp.get_tip(pos_under, kelp.get_height(node_under.param2))
 		def_tip = mt_registered_nodes[node_tip.name]
 
 	-- When placed on surface.
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_portals/portal_nether.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_portals/portal_nether.lua
index 825c95e05d..1d9fe2efbe 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_portals/portal_nether.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_portals/portal_nether.lua
@@ -490,10 +490,12 @@ local function ecb_scan_area_2(blockpos, action, calls_remaining, param)
 	end
 
 	if param.next_chunk_1 and param.next_chunk_2 and param.next_pos then
-		local pos1, pos2, pos = param.next_chunk_1, param.next_chunk_2, param.next_pos
-		log("action", "[mcl_portals] Making additional search in chunk below, because current one doesn't contain any air space for portal, target pos "..pos_to_string(pos))
-		minetest.emerge_area(pos1, pos2, ecb_scan_area_2, {pos = pos, pos1 = pos1, pos2 = pos2, name=name, obj=obj})
-		return
+		local pos1, pos2, p = param.next_chunk_1, param.next_chunk_2, param.next_pos
+		if p.x >= pos1.x and p.x <= pos2.x and p.y >= pos1.y and p.y <= pos2.y and p.z >= pos1.z and p.z <= pos2.z then
+			log("action", "[mcl_portals] Making additional search in chunk below, because current one doesn't contain any air space for portal, target pos "..pos_to_string(p))
+			minetest.emerge_area(pos1, pos2, ecb_scan_area_2, {pos = p, pos1 = pos1, pos2 = pos2, name=name, obj=obj})
+			return
+		end
 	end
 
 	log("action", "[mcl_portals] found no space, reverting to target pos "..pos_to_string(pos).." - creating a portal")
@@ -536,7 +538,7 @@ local function create_portal(pos, limit1, limit2, name, obj)
 	-- Basically the copy of code above, with minor additions to continue the search in single additional chunk below:
 	local next_chunk_1 = {x = pos1.x, y = pos1.y - mcl_vars.chunk_size_in_nodes, z = pos1.z}
 	local next_chunk_2 = add(next_chunk_1, mcl_vars.chunk_size_in_nodes - 1)
-	local next_pos = {x = pos.x, y=next_chunk_2.y, z = pos.z}
+	local next_pos = {x = pos.x, y=max(next_chunk_2.y, limit1.y), z = pos.z}
 	if limit1 and limit1.x and limit1.y and limit1.z then
 		pos1 = {x = max(min(limit1.x, pos.x), pos1.x), y = max(min(limit1.y, pos.y), pos1.y), z = max(min(limit1.z, pos.z), pos1.z)}
 		next_chunk_1 = {x = max(min(limit1.x, next_pos.x), next_chunk_1.x), y = max(min(limit1.y, next_pos.y), next_chunk_1.y), z = max(min(limit1.z, next_pos.z), next_chunk_1.z)}