diff --git a/src/GameLogic/Party.cs b/src/GameLogic/Party.cs
index 2bc71a5..e4c82b1 100644
--- a/src/GameLogic/Party.cs
+++ b/src/GameLogic/Party.cs
@@ -388,19 +388,20 @@ public sealed class Party : AsyncDisposable
             return exp;
         }
 
+        var normalExperience = (int)(perLevel
+                                     * attributes[Stats.Level]
+                                     * player.GameContext.ExperienceRate
+                                     * (attributes[Stats.ExperienceRate] + attributes[Stats.BonusExperienceRate]));
+
         if (!isAtMaxLevel)
         {
-            var exp = (int)(perLevel
-                            * attributes[Stats.Level]
-                            * player.GameContext.ExperienceRate
-                            * (attributes[Stats.ExperienceRate] + attributes[Stats.BonusExperienceRate]));
-
-            await player.AddExperienceAsync(exp, killed).ConfigureAwait(false);
-            return exp;
+            await player.AddExperienceAsync(normalExperience, killed).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
-        // Player is at max level but has not completed master quest. No experience awarded.
-        return 0;
+        // At the maximum level without the master quest no experience is awarded, but the amount is
+        // still returned: the money drop is derived from it, and a solo kill returns it as well
+        // (see Player.AddExpAfterKillAsync), so such a member must not end up without any money.
+        return normalExperience;
     }
 
     private async ValueTask ExitPartyAsync(IPartyMember member, byte index)
diff --git a/tests/MUnique.OpenMU.Tests/ExperienceRateSplitTest.cs b/tests/MUnique.OpenMU.Tests/ExperienceRateSplitTest.cs
index cac3382..6e03a30 100644
--- a/tests/MUnique.OpenMU.Tests/ExperienceRateSplitTest.cs
+++ b/tests/MUnique.OpenMU.Tests/ExperienceRateSplitTest.cs
@@ -113,6 +113,39 @@ public class ExperienceRateSplitTest
         Assert.That(masterGained, Is.GreaterThan(normalGained * 3));
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Verifies that a party member at the maximum level without the master quest still gets a
+    /// money basis. It gains no experience, but the money drop is derived from that value, and a
+    /// solo kill returns it too - so returning zero would leave it without any zen in a party.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Test]
+    public async ValueTask MaxLevelMemberWithoutMasterQuestStillHasMoneyBasisAsync()
+    {
+        var context = this.CreateGameServerContext(
+            normalExperienceRate: 1.0f,
+            globalMasterExperienceRate: 1.0f,
+            maximumLevel: 3,
+            maximumMasterLevel: 200);
+
+        var maxedPlayer = await this.CreatePlayerAsync(context, level: 3, totalLevel: 3, isMasterClass: false).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        var levelingPlayer = await this.CreatePlayerAsync(context, level: 2, totalLevel: 2, isMasterClass: false).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        var party = new Party(new PartyManager(5, new NullLogger<Party>()), 5, new NullLogger<Party>());
+        await party.AddAsync(maxedPlayer).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await party.AddAsync(levelingPlayer).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await maxedPlayer.AddObserverAsync(levelingPlayer).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        var killedObject = CreateKilledObject(level: 5);
+        var shares = await party.DistributeExperienceAfterKillAsync(killedObject.Object, maxedPlayer).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        var maxedShare = shares.First(s => s.Player == maxedPlayer);
+        Assert.That(maxedShare.Experience, Is.GreaterThan(0));
+
+        // It still must not actually gain any experience.
+        Assert.That(maxedPlayer.SelectedCharacter!.Experience, Is.EqualTo(0));
+        Assert.That(maxedPlayer.SelectedCharacter.MasterExperience, Is.EqualTo(0));
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Verifies that concurrent normal experience gains cannot exceed the maximum level.
     /// </summary>