diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/steer.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/steer.ludic
index 292a97c3..def5068d 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/steer.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/steer.ludic
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ function chr_steer(character_st: mut CharacterState, dx: float, dz: float, mag:
     if run { top = character_st.chr_run_speed * CharacterBody.pace() }
     if CharacterBody.sneaking() { top = 1.3 }
     target = mag * top * lined
-  } else if CharacterBody.holding() and not character_st.chr_air {
+  } else if CharacterBody.holding() and not character_st.chr_air and not character_st.chr_sit {
     # a hold turns the body to the thing being worked, so the work is seen being done
     chr_turn_to(character_st, CharacterBody.hold_x() - character_st.chr_x, CharacterBody.hold_z() - character_st.chr_z, 6.0 * dt)
   }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/tests/character_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/tests/character_test.ludic
index 6641d175..f9362895 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/tests/character_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/tests/character_test.ludic
@@ -289,6 +289,24 @@ program CharacterTest {
     character_test_st.riding = false
   }
 
+  test "a seat against the boulder holds the body still: the walker never pushes it off the seat" (character_st: mut CharacterState, character_test_st: mut CharacterTestState) {
+    fresh(character_st, 0.0, 4.5, 0.0)
+    char_update(character_st, 0.0, 0.0, false, false, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 / 60.0)
+    char_sit(character_st, 0.0, 5.7, 0.0, CHAR_SIT_SEAT)
+    for i in 0 .. 90 { char_update(character_st, 0.0, 0.0, false, false, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 / 60.0) }
+    var most = 0.0
+    for i in 0 .. 120 {
+      let x0 = body_x(character_st)
+      let y0 = body_y(character_st)
+      let z0 = body_z(character_st)
+      char_update(character_st, 0.0, 0.0, false, false, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 / 60.0)
+      most = Math.max(most, Math.abs(body_x(character_st) - x0) + Math.abs(body_y(character_st) - y0) + Math.abs(body_z(character_st) - z0))
+    }
+    expect(body_sitting(character_st))
+    expect(most < 0.0005)
+    expect_near(body_z(character_st), 5.7, 0.01)
+  }
+
   test "a hold stops the stick, and only its own reason lets it go" (character_st: mut CharacterState, character_test_st: mut CharacterTestState) {
     fresh(character_st, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
     character_test_st.mz = 1.0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/update.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/update.ludic
index 1898dc07..eb7f6216 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/update.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/update.ludic
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ export function char_update(character_st: mut CharacterState, ix0: float, iz0: f
     mag = 1.0
   }
   chr_steer(character_st, dx, dz, mag, run, dt)
-  let dist = chr_travel(character_st, dx, dz, -Math.sin(character_st.chr_yaw), -Math.cos(character_st.chr_yaw), jump, dt)
+  # seated, the seat holds the body (chr_sit_tick): handed to the walker too, it was pushed off a
+  # log or a bench and pulled back each frame, and shook
+  var dist = 0.0
+  if not character_st.chr_sit or character_st.chr_swim { dist = chr_travel(character_st, dx, dz, -Math.sin(character_st.chr_yaw), -Math.cos(character_st.chr_yaw), jump, dt) }
   chr_gait(character_st, dist, dyaw, dpitch, dt)
   char_camera(character_st, dt)
 }