diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Crate.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Crate.cs
index e167aa4d4c..802ee80308 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Crate.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Crate.cs
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA
 {
 	class CrateInfo : ITraitInfo, IOccupySpaceInfo, Requires<RenderSpritesInfo>
 	{
-		[Desc("Seconds")]
-		public readonly int Lifetime = 5;
+		[Desc("Length of time (in seconds) until the crate gets removed automatically. " +
+			"A value of zero disables auto-removal.")]
+		public readonly int Lifetime = 0;
 
 		[Desc("Allowed to land on.")]
 		public readonly string[] TerrainTypes = { };
@@ -57,24 +58,27 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA
 			if (collected)
 				return;
 
-			var shares = self.TraitsImplementing<CrateAction>()
-				.Select(a => Pair.New(a, a.GetSelectionSharesOuter(crusher)));
-
-			var totalShares = shares.Sum(a => a.Second);
-			var n = self.World.SharedRandom.Next(totalShares);
+			var crateActions = self.TraitsImplementing<CrateAction>();
 
 			self.Destroy();
 			collected = true;
 
-			foreach (var s in shares)
+			if (crateActions.Any())
 			{
-				if (n < s.Second)
+				var shares = crateActions.Select(a => Pair.New(a, a.GetSelectionSharesOuter(crusher)));
+
+				var totalShares = shares.Sum(a => a.Second);
+				var n = self.World.SharedRandom.Next(totalShares);
+
+				foreach (var s in shares)
 				{
-					s.First.Activate(crusher);
-					return;
+					if (n < s.Second)
+					{
+						s.First.Activate(crusher);
+						return;
+					} else
+						n -= s.Second;
 				}
-				else
-					n -= s.Second;
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -107,7 +111,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA
 
 		public void Tick(Actor self)
 		{
-			if (++ticks >= info.Lifetime * 25)
+			if (info.Lifetime != 0 && ++ticks >= info.Lifetime * 25)
 				self.Destroy();
 		}
 
diff --git a/mods/cnc/rules/defaults.yaml b/mods/cnc/rules/defaults.yaml
index d08506f1d4..bbc3f3ccee 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/rules/defaults.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/rules/defaults.yaml
@@ -646,4 +646,18 @@
 		DestroyedSound: xplobig4.aud
 	BodyOrientation:
 	ScriptTriggers:
+^Crate:
+	Tooltip:
+		Name: Crate
+		GenericName: Crate
+	Crate:
+		TerrainTypes: Clear, Rough, Road, Tiberium, BlueTiberium, Beach
+	RenderSprites:
+		Palette: effect
+	WithCrateBody:
+		XmasImages: xcratea, xcrateb, xcratec, xcrated
+	Selectable:
+		Selectable: false
+		Bounds: 15,15,-1,-1
+	BodyOrientation:
 
diff --git a/mods/cnc/rules/misc.yaml b/mods/cnc/rules/misc.yaml
index decde903ac..6982a8be0d 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/rules/misc.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/rules/misc.yaml
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
+CRATE.plain:
+	Inherits: ^Crate
+	ScriptTriggers:
+
 CRATE:
-	Tooltip:
-		Name: Crate
+	Inherits: ^Crate
 	Crate:
 		Lifetime: 240
-		TerrainTypes: Clear, Rough, Road, Tiberium, BlueTiberium, Beach
 	GiveCashCrateAction:
 		Amount: 1000
 		SelectionShares: 20
@@ -27,14 +29,6 @@ CRATE:
 		SelectionShares: 0
 		NoBaseSelectionShares: 120
 		Units: mcv
-	RenderSprites:
-		Palette: effect
-	WithCrateBody:
-		XmasImages: xcratea, xcrateb, xcratec, xcrated
-	Selectable:
-		Selectable: false
-		Bounds: 15,15,-1,-1
-	BodyOrientation:
 
 mpspawn:
 	Immobile: