diff --git a/src/battle_message.c b/src/battle_message.c
index 30af20a784..28bcca187b 100644
--- a/src/battle_message.c
+++ b/src/battle_message.c
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ static const u8 sText_TerrainBecomesGrassy[] = _("Grass grew to cover\nthe battl
 static const u8 sText_TerrainBecomesElectric[] = _("An electric current runs across\nthe battlefield!");
 static const u8 sText_TerrainBecomesPsychic[] = _("The battlefield got weird!");
 static const u8 sText_TargetElectrified[] = _("The {B_DEF_NAME_WITH_PREFIX}'s moves\nhave been electrified!");
-static const u8 sText_AssaultVestDoesntAllow[] = _("The effects of the {B_LAST_ITEM} prevent status\nmoves from being used!\p");
+static const u8 sText_AssaultVestDoesntAllow[] = _("{B_LAST_ITEM}'s effects prevent\nstatus moves from being used!\p");
 static const u8 sText_GravityPreventsUsage[] = _("{B_ATK_NAME_WITH_PREFIX} can't use {B_CURRENT_MOVE}\nbecause of gravity!\p");
 static const u8 sText_HealBlockPreventsUsage[] = _("{B_ATK_NAME_WITH_PREFIX} was\nprevented from healing!\p");
 static const u8 sText_MegaEvoReacting[] = _("{B_ATK_NAME_WITH_PREFIX}'s {B_LAST_ITEM} is \nreacting to {B_ATK_TRAINER_NAME}'s Mega Ring!");
diff --git a/src/battle_util.c b/src/battle_util.c
index 1f89a082e5..6ce984cf40 100644
--- a/src/battle_util.c
+++ b/src/battle_util.c
@@ -1762,7 +1762,7 @@ u8 TrySetCantSelectMoveBattleScript(void)
             limitations++;
         }
     }
-    else if (holdEffect == HOLD_EFFECT_ASSAULT_VEST && gBattleMoves[move].power == 0)
+    else if (holdEffect == HOLD_EFFECT_ASSAULT_VEST && gBattleMoves[move].power == 0 && move != MOVE_ME_FIRST)
     {
         gCurrentMove = move;
         gLastUsedItem = gBattleMons[gActiveBattler].item;
@@ -1834,7 +1834,7 @@ u8 CheckMoveLimitations(u8 battlerId, u8 unusableMoves, u8 check)
             unusableMoves |= gBitTable[i];
         else if (HOLD_EFFECT_CHOICE(holdEffect) && *choicedMove != 0 && *choicedMove != 0xFFFF && *choicedMove != gBattleMons[battlerId].moves[i])
             unusableMoves |= gBitTable[i];
-        else if (holdEffect == HOLD_EFFECT_ASSAULT_VEST && gBattleMoves[gBattleMons[battlerId].moves[i]].power == 0)
+        else if (holdEffect == HOLD_EFFECT_ASSAULT_VEST && gBattleMoves[gBattleMons[battlerId].moves[i]].power == 0 && gBattleMons[battlerId].moves[i] != MOVE_ME_FIRST)
             unusableMoves |= gBitTable[i];
         else if (IsGravityPreventingMove(gBattleMons[battlerId].moves[i]))
             unusableMoves |= gBitTable[i];