diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
index 6a9679686..ec4bfa1e0 100755
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
@@ -5417,8 +5417,9 @@ class GedcomParser(UpdateCallback):
         @type state: CurrentState
         """
 
-        if self.is_ftw and state.event.type in FTW_BAD_PLACE:
-            state.event.set_description(line.data)
+        if self.is_ftw and (state.event.type in FTW_BAD_PLACE) \
+                and not state.event.get_description():
+             state.event.set_description(line.data)
         else:
             title = line.data
             place = state.place
@@ -5448,8 +5449,8 @@ class GedcomParser(UpdateCallback):
             state.msg += sub_state.msg
             if sub_state.pf:                # if we found local PLAC:FORM
                 state.pf = sub_state.pf     # save to override global value
-        # merge notes etc into place
-        state.place.merge(sub_state.place)
+            # merge notes etc into place
+            state.place.merge(sub_state.place)
 
     def __event_place_note(self, line, state):
         """