--- a/net/minecraft/server/EntityFireballFireball.java
+++ b/net/minecraft/server/EntityFireballFireball.java
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@
 
     public void b(ItemStack itemstack) {
         if (itemstack.getItem() != Items.FIRE_CHARGE || itemstack.hasTag()) {
-            this.getDataWatcher().set(EntityFireballFireball.f, SystemUtils.a((Object) itemstack.cloneItemStack(), (itemstack1) -> {
+            this.getDataWatcher().set(EntityFireballFireball.f, SystemUtils.a(itemstack.cloneItemStack(), (itemstack1) -> { // CraftBukkit - decompile error
                 itemstack1.setCount(1);
             }));
         }
 
     }
 
-    protected ItemStack l() {
+    public ItemStack l() { // PAIL protected -> public
         return (ItemStack) this.getDataWatcher().get(EntityFireballFireball.f);
     }
 
@@ -50,6 +50,6 @@
         super.a(nbttagcompound);
         ItemStack itemstack = ItemStack.a(nbttagcompound.getCompound("Item"));
 
-        this.b(itemstack);
+        if (!itemstack.isEmpty()) this.b(itemstack); // CraftBukkit - SPIGOT-5474 probably came from bugged earlier versions
     }
 }