diff --git a/src/board.rs b/src/board.rs
index 925130f..f9c558c 100644
--- a/src/board.rs
+++ b/src/board.rs
@@ -70,12 +70,14 @@ impl Board {
         }
         self_copy.place_unchecked(i, j, piece);
         let how_many_prop = self_copy.propegate_from(i, j);
+        if how_many_prop == 0 {
+            return None;
+        }
         Some((self_copy, how_many_prop))
     }
 
     pub fn place(&mut self, i: usize, j: usize, piece: Piece) -> Result<(), String> {
-        let what_if_result = self.what_if(i, j, piece);
-        if let Some(what_if_result) = what_if_result {
+        if let Some(what_if_result) = self.what_if(i, j, piece) {
             if what_if_result.1 > 0 {
                 *self = what_if_result.0;
                 return Ok(());