diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/README.md b/packages/ludic.npc/README.md
index 42263c87..dc46f886 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/README.md
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/README.md
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ by a person's taste.
 | `npc_pick_name(body)`, `npc_name_used(n)`, `npc_name_clashes()` | names |
 | `npc_talk(p, player)`, `npc_line_for(p)`, `npc_words(p, line)`, `npc_said()`, `npc_choose(p, line, c, player)`, `npc_talked_today(p)`, `npc_greeting(p)` | talk |
 | `npc_mirror(on)`, `npc_mirroring()`, `npc_put(slot, id, kind, look, seed, name, hx, hz)`, `npc_heard(slot, x, y, z, yaw, speed, act, stalk)`, `npc_heard_lately(p)`, `npc_mirror_tick(dt)` | a guest's copy of the host's people |
-| `npc_facts() -> Queue<NpcFact>` | `NPC_F_GREETED` (`player`), `NPC_F_TALKED` (`player`, `line`, `choice`), `NPC_F_ARRIVED` (`act`) |
+| `npc_facts() -> Queue<NpcFact>` | `NPC_F_GREETED` (`player`), `NPC_F_TALKED` (`player`, `line`, `choice`), `NPC_F_ARRIVED` (`act`), `NPC_F_STUCK` (`how` - `NPC_STUCK_DETOUR`, `_RETRY`, `_GAVE_UP` - at `x`, `z`: the way failed it and it fell back) |
 | `npc_system() -> System` | `"npc"`, `PH_SIMULATE`, a reset and no tick; nothing saved |
 
 ## Tests
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
index 18e3121a..2352a657 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ export open registry NpcNames of NpcName as NPCN
 export const NPC_F_GREETED: int = 0    # a player came within notice
 export const NPC_F_TALKED: int = 1     # a player talked (line, choice -1 or the choice taken)
 export const NPC_F_ARRIVED: int = 2    # got where it was walking, and began the act
+export const NPC_F_STUCK: int = 3      # the way failed it and it fell back (`how`, at `x`, `z`)
 
 export property NpcFact {
   what: int = 0
@@ -141,4 +142,7 @@ export property NpcFact {
   line: int = -1
   choice: int = -1
   act: int = -1
+  how: int = 0                 # NPC_STUCK_*
+  x: float = 0.0
+  z: float = 0.0
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/tests/npc_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/tests/npc_test.ludic
index 0b001a50..c9b5bbe0 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/tests/npc_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/tests/npc_test.ludic
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ program NpcTest {
     expect_eq(p.act, NPCA_SIT)
   }
 
-  test "nobody walks into the lake" (npc_st: mut NpcState, npc_tests_fake_st: mut NpcTestsFakeState) {
+  test "nobody walks into the lake, and turning back from it is told as a fallback" (npc_st: mut NpcState, npc_tests_fake_st: mut NpcTestsFakeState) {
     let p = one(npc_st, npc_tests_fake_st, NPCK_HIKER)
     npc_go(npc_st, p, -80.0, 0.0, NPCA_SIT, 30.0)
     var west = 0.0
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ program NpcTest {
       west = Math.min(west, p.x)
     }
     expect(west > -50.5)
+    var fell = 0
+    let fs = q_drain(npc_facts(npc_st))
+    for i in 0 .. len(fs) {
+      if fs[i].what == NPC_F_STUCK and fs[i].x > -52.0 { fell += 1 }
+    }
+    expect(fell >= 1)
   }
 
   test "a step's spot is where its hours say: the shore by day, home by night" (npc_st: mut NpcState, npc_tests_fake_st: mut NpcTestsFakeState) {
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/tests/way_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/tests/way_test.ludic
index 22b726b4..b76fda18 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/tests/way_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/tests/way_test.ludic
@@ -78,5 +78,7 @@ program NpcWayTest {
     expect_eq(p.act, NPCA_SIT)
     expect(npc_d(p.x, p.z, 38.0, -25.0) < 1.3)
     expect(way_test_st.asked > 5)
+    let fs = q_drain(npc_facts(npc_st))
+    for i in 0 .. len(fs) { expect(fs[i].what != NPC_F_STUCK) }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/walk.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/walk.ludic
index 90758386..6f416cc4 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/walk.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/walk.ludic
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export function npc_walk(npc_st: mut NpcState, p: NpcPerson, dt: float) -> void
     p.stall = p.stall + dt
     if p.stall > p.stall_max { p.stall_max = p.stall }
     if p.detours < 10 and np_detour(p, want) {
+      np_stuck_fact(npc_st, p, NPC_STUCK_DETOUR)
       p.detours += 1
       return
     }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
index 1108897f..d0ffa8ad 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 # way.ludic - where a person walks when the straight line will not do: the world's way (NpcWorld.way,
 # a navmesh by a person's taste in Maroon Lake), and without one a step round what is in the way,
-# and giving the target up after three tries
+# and giving the target up after three tries - each of those a NPC_F_STUCK fact, so the fallback is seen
+export const NPC_STUCK_DETOUR: int = 0     # a step round what was in front of it
+export const NPC_STUCK_RETRY: int = 1      # no closer for twenty seconds, or no step round: planned again
+export const NPC_STUCK_GAVE_UP: int = 2    # the third of those: the target given up
+function np_stuck_fact(npc_st: NpcState, p: NpcPerson, how: int) -> void {
+  let f = np_fact(npc_st, NPC_F_STUCK, p, -1)
+  f.how = how
+  f.x = p.x
+  f.z = p.z
+}
 
 # the next corner toward the target, asked again every half second, on reaching it, or for a new target
 const NP_WAY_EVERY: float = 0.5
@@ -39,7 +48,11 @@ function np_stuck(npc_st: mut NpcState, p: NpcPerson) -> void {
   p.fails += 1
   p.via_on = false
   if p.fails >= 3 {
+    np_stuck_fact(npc_st, p, NPC_STUCK_GAVE_UP)
     p.fails = 0
     npc_wander(npc_st, p)
-  } else { npc_plan(npc_st, p) }
+  } else {
+    np_stuck_fact(npc_st, p, NPC_STUCK_RETRY)
+    npc_plan(npc_st, p)
+  }
 }