diff --git a/commands/CmdRS.c b/commands/CmdRS.c
index b9d43b1d..460bb0de 100644
--- a/commands/CmdRS.c
+++ b/commands/CmdRS.c
@@ -2732,6 +2732,9 @@ CmdSplit(w, cmd)
     if (!CmdParseLayers(cmd->tx_argv[2], &mask1))
         return;
 
+    /* Remove any inactive layers */
+    TTMaskAndMask(&mask1, &DBActiveLayerBits);
+
     if ((direction = GeoNameToPos(cmd->tx_argv[1], FALSE, TRUE)) < 0)
 	return;
 
@@ -2842,6 +2845,9 @@ CmdSplitErase(w, cmd)
     if (TTMaskIsZero(&mask))
 	return;
 
+    /* Remove any inactive layers */
+    TTMaskAndMask(&mask, &DBActiveLayerBits);
+
     direction = (direction >> 1) - 1;
     dir = (direction & 0x1) ? 0 : TT_DIRECTION;