diff --git a/src/aircraft_cmd.cpp b/src/aircraft_cmd.cpp
index 3b7b9044ae..1a7710f53d 100644
--- a/src/aircraft_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/aircraft_cmd.cpp
@@ -1775,14 +1775,7 @@ static bool AircraftEventHandler(Aircraft *v, int loop)
 
 	if (v->vehstatus & VS_STOPPED) return true;
 
-	/* aircraft is broken down? */
-	if (v->breakdown_ctr != 0) {
-		if (v->breakdown_ctr <= 2) {
-			v->HandleBreakdown();
-		} else {
-			if (!v->current_order.IsType(OT_LOADING)) v->breakdown_ctr--;
-		}
-	}
+	v->HandleBreakdown();
 
 	HandleAircraftSmoke(v);
 	ProcessOrders(v);
diff --git a/src/roadveh_cmd.cpp b/src/roadveh_cmd.cpp
index 2e9626ae8f..d2529185f8 100644
--- a/src/roadveh_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/roadveh_cmd.cpp
@@ -1485,14 +1485,7 @@ static bool RoadVehController(RoadVehicle *v)
 	}
 
 	/* road vehicle has broken down? */
-	if (v->breakdown_ctr != 0) {
-		if (v->breakdown_ctr <= 2) {
-			v->HandleBreakdown();
-			return true;
-		}
-		if (!v->current_order.IsType(OT_LOADING)) v->breakdown_ctr--;
-	}
-
+	if (v->HandleBreakdown()) return true;
 	if (v->vehstatus & VS_STOPPED) return true;
 
 	ProcessOrders(v);
diff --git a/src/ship_cmd.cpp b/src/ship_cmd.cpp
index a58fe7b29b..ef2b49fcc2 100644
--- a/src/ship_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/ship_cmd.cpp
@@ -424,13 +424,7 @@ static void ShipController(Ship *v)
 	v->tick_counter++;
 	v->current_order_time++;
 
-	if (v->breakdown_ctr != 0) {
-		if (v->breakdown_ctr <= 2) {
-			v->HandleBreakdown();
-			return;
-		}
-		if (!v->current_order.IsType(OT_LOADING)) v->breakdown_ctr--;
-	}
+	if (v->HandleBreakdown()) return;
 
 	if (v->vehstatus & VS_STOPPED) return;
 
diff --git a/src/train_cmd.cpp b/src/train_cmd.cpp
index 3fab4a3bc9..28b1d997ff 100644
--- a/src/train_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/train_cmd.cpp
@@ -3716,13 +3716,7 @@ static bool TrainLocoHandler(Train *v, bool mode)
 	}
 
 	/* train is broken down? */
-	if (v->breakdown_ctr != 0) {
-		if (v->breakdown_ctr <= 2) {
-			v->HandleBreakdown();
-			return true;
-		}
-		if (!v->current_order.IsType(OT_LOADING)) v->breakdown_ctr--;
-	}
+	if (v->HandleBreakdown()) return true;
 
 	if (HasBit(v->flags, VRF_REVERSING) && v->cur_speed == 0) {
 		ReverseTrainDirection(v);
diff --git a/src/vehicle.cpp b/src/vehicle.cpp
index 864b971cce..575f5a3a30 100644
--- a/src/vehicle.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle.cpp
@@ -986,13 +986,18 @@ void CheckVehicleBreakdown(Vehicle *v)
 	}
 }
 
-void Vehicle::HandleBreakdown()
+bool Vehicle::HandleBreakdown()
 {
 	/* Possible states for Vehicle::breakdown_ctr
 	 * 0  - vehicle is running normally
 	 * 1  - vehicle is currently broken down
 	 * 2  - vehicle is going to break down now
 	 * >2 - vehicle is counting down to the actual breakdown event */
+	if (this->breakdown_ctr == 0) return false;
+	if (this->breakdown_ctr > 2) {
+		if (!this->current_order.IsType(OT_LOADING)) this->breakdown_ctr--;
+		return false;
+	}
 	if (this->breakdown_ctr != 1) {
 		this->breakdown_ctr = 1;
 
@@ -1024,7 +1029,7 @@ void Vehicle::HandleBreakdown()
 	}
 
 	/* Aircraft breakdowns end only when arriving at the airport */
-	if (this->type == VEH_AIRCRAFT) return;
+	if (this->type == VEH_AIRCRAFT) return false;
 
 	/* For trains this function is called twice per tick, so decrease v->breakdown_delay at half the rate */
 	if ((this->tick_counter & (this->type == VEH_TRAIN ? 3 : 1)) == 0) {
@@ -1034,6 +1039,7 @@ void Vehicle::HandleBreakdown()
 			SetWindowDirty(WC_VEHICLE_VIEW, this->index);
 		}
 	}
+	return true;
 }
 
 void AgeVehicle(Vehicle *v)
diff --git a/src/vehicle_base.h b/src/vehicle_base.h
index e6fe20e17f..b2b38791d0 100644
--- a/src/vehicle_base.h
+++ b/src/vehicle_base.h
@@ -523,11 +523,14 @@ public:
 		this->service_interval = src->service_interval;
 	}
 
+
 	/**
-	 * Handle all of the aspects of a vehicle breakdown.
+	 * Handle all of the aspects of a vehicle breakdown
 	 * This includes adding smoke and sounds, and ending the breakdown when appropriate.
+	 * @return true iff the vehicle is stopped because of a breakdown
+	 * @note This function always returns false for aircraft, since these never stop for breakdowns
 	 */
-	void HandleBreakdown();
+	bool HandleBreakdown();
 
 	bool NeedsAutorenewing(const Company *c) const;