diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
index a6e2d6a998..3776d54d9a 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ void OtherAvatar::computeShapeLOD() {
         break;
     case workload::Region::UNKNOWN:
     case workload::Region::INVALID:
+    case workload::Region::R4:
     case workload::Region::R3:
     default:
         newLOD = BodyLOD::Sphere;
diff --git a/interface/src/octree/SafeLanding.cpp b/interface/src/octree/SafeLanding.cpp
index 75e512232b..01ef9ed69e 100644
--- a/interface/src/octree/SafeLanding.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/octree/SafeLanding.cpp
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ void SafeLanding::updateTracking() {
             if (isEntityPhysicsReady(entity) && isVisuallyReady) {
                 entityMapIter = _trackedEntities.erase(entityMapIter);
             } else {
-                if (!isVisuallyReady) {
-                    entity->requestRenderUpdate();
-                }
                 entityMapIter++;
             }
         }
@@ -203,8 +200,11 @@ bool SafeLanding::isEntityPhysicsReady(const EntityItemPointer& entity) {
             if (hasAABox && downloadedCollisionTypes.count(modelEntity->getShapeType()) != 0) {
                 auto space = _entityTreeRenderer->getWorkloadSpace();
                 uint8_t region = space ? space->getRegion(entity->getSpaceIndex()) : (uint8_t)workload::Region::INVALID;
-                bool shouldBePhysical = region < workload::Region::R3 && entity->shouldBePhysical();
-                return (!shouldBePhysical || entity->isInPhysicsSimulation() || modelEntity->computeShapeFailedToLoad());
+                bool definitelyNotPhysical = (region > workload::Region::R2 && region < workload::Region::UNKNOWN) ||
+                    !entity->shouldBePhysical() ||
+                    modelEntity->unableToLoadCollisionShape();
+                bool definitelyPhysical = entity->isInPhysicsSimulation();
+                return definitelyNotPhysical || definitelyPhysical;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index cfc94ad92c..7ef491312f 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -282,27 +282,26 @@ bool RenderableModelEntityItem::findDetailedParabolaIntersection(const glm::vec3
 }
 
 void RenderableModelEntityItem::fetchCollisionGeometryResource() {
-    _compoundShapeResource = DependencyManager::get<ModelCache>()->getCollisionGeometryResource(getCollisionShapeURL());
+    _collisionGeometryResource = DependencyManager::get<ModelCache>()->getCollisionGeometryResource(getCollisionShapeURL());
 }
 
-bool RenderableModelEntityItem::computeShapeFailedToLoad() {
-    if (!_compoundShapeResource) {
+bool RenderableModelEntityItem::unableToLoadCollisionShape() {
+    if (!_collisionGeometryResource) {
         fetchCollisionGeometryResource();
     }
-
-    return (_compoundShapeResource && _compoundShapeResource->isFailed());
+    return (_collisionGeometryResource && _collisionGeometryResource->isFailed());
 }
 
 void RenderableModelEntityItem::setShapeType(ShapeType type) {
     ModelEntityItem::setShapeType(type);
     auto shapeType = getShapeType();
     if (shapeType == SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND || shapeType == SHAPE_TYPE_SIMPLE_COMPOUND) {
-        if (!_compoundShapeResource && !getCollisionShapeURL().isEmpty()) {
+        if (!_collisionGeometryResource && !getCollisionShapeURL().isEmpty()) {
             fetchCollisionGeometryResource();
         }
-    } else if (_compoundShapeResource && !getCompoundShapeURL().isEmpty()) {
+    } else if (_collisionGeometryResource && !getCompoundShapeURL().isEmpty()) {
         // the compoundURL has been set but the shapeType does not agree
-        _compoundShapeResource.reset();
+        _collisionGeometryResource.reset();
     }
 }
 
@@ -333,11 +332,11 @@ bool RenderableModelEntityItem::isReadyToComputeShape() const {
         }
 
         if (model->isLoaded()) {
-            if (!shapeURL.isEmpty() && !_compoundShapeResource) {
+            if (!shapeURL.isEmpty() && !_collisionGeometryResource) {
                 const_cast<RenderableModelEntityItem*>(this)->fetchCollisionGeometryResource();
             }
 
-            if (_compoundShapeResource && _compoundShapeResource->isLoaded()) {
+            if (_collisionGeometryResource && _collisionGeometryResource->isLoaded()) {
                 // we have both URLs AND both geometries AND they are both fully loaded.
                 if (_needsInitialSimulation) {
                     // the _model's offset will be wrong until _needsInitialSimulation is false
@@ -368,7 +367,7 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& shapeInfo) {
     }
 
     if (type == SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND) {
-        if (!_compoundShapeResource || !_compoundShapeResource->isLoaded()) {
+        if (!_collisionGeometryResource || !_collisionGeometryResource->isLoaded()) {
             return;
         }
 
@@ -376,8 +375,8 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& shapeInfo) {
 
         // should never fall in here when collision model not fully loaded
         // TODO: assert that all geometries exist and are loaded
-        //assert(_model && _model->isLoaded() && _compoundShapeResource && _compoundShapeResource->isLoaded());
-        const HFMModel& collisionGeometry = _compoundShapeResource->getHFMModel();
+        //assert(_model && _model->isLoaded() && _collisionGeometryResource && _collisionGeometryResource->isLoaded());
+        const HFMModel& collisionGeometry = _collisionGeometryResource->getHFMModel();
 
         ShapeInfo::PointCollection& pointCollection = shapeInfo.getPointCollection();
         pointCollection.clear();
@@ -499,7 +498,7 @@ void RenderableModelEntityItem::computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& shapeInfo) {
 
         std::vector<std::shared_ptr<const graphics::Mesh>> meshes;
         if (type == SHAPE_TYPE_SIMPLE_COMPOUND) {
-            auto& hfmMeshes = _compoundShapeResource->getHFMModel().meshes;
+            auto& hfmMeshes = _collisionGeometryResource->getHFMModel().meshes;
             meshes.reserve(hfmMeshes.size());
             for (auto& hfmMesh : hfmMeshes) {
                 meshes.push_back(hfmMesh._mesh);
@@ -727,10 +726,10 @@ int RenderableModelEntityItem::avatarJointIndex(int modelJointIndex) {
 
 bool RenderableModelEntityItem::contains(const glm::vec3& point) const {
     auto model = getModel();
-    if (EntityItem::contains(point) && model && _compoundShapeResource && _compoundShapeResource->isLoaded()) {
+    if (EntityItem::contains(point) && model && _collisionGeometryResource && _collisionGeometryResource->isLoaded()) {
         glm::mat4 worldToHFMMatrix = model->getWorldToHFMMatrix();
         glm::vec3 hfmPoint = worldToHFMMatrix * glm::vec4(point, 1.0f);
-        return _compoundShapeResource->getHFMModel().convexHullContains(hfmPoint);
+        return _collisionGeometryResource->getHFMModel().convexHullContains(hfmPoint);
     }
 
     return false;
@@ -960,6 +959,10 @@ QStringList RenderableModelEntityItem::getJointNames() const {
     return result;
 }
 
+QString RenderableModelEntityItem::getCollisionShapeURL() const {
+    return getShapeType() == SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND ? getCompoundShapeURL() : getModelURL();
+}
+
 scriptable::ScriptableModelBase render::entities::ModelEntityRenderer::getScriptableModel() {
     auto model = resultWithReadLock<ModelPointer>([this]{ return _model; });
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
index 7f84b3ae62..3c6f1d956c 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool isReadyToComputeShape() const override;
     virtual void computeShapeInfo(ShapeInfo& shapeInfo) override;
-    bool computeShapeFailedToLoad();
+    bool unableToLoadCollisionShape();
 
     virtual bool contains(const glm::vec3& point) const override;
     void stopModelOverrideIfNoParent();
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ public:
     virtual int getJointIndex(const QString& name) const override;
     virtual QStringList getJointNames() const override;
 
+    // Returns the URL used for the collision shape
+    QString getCollisionShapeURL() const;
+
 private:
     bool needsUpdateModelBounds() const;
     void autoResizeJointArrays();
@@ -120,7 +123,7 @@ private:
     bool readyToAnimate() const;
     void fetchCollisionGeometryResource();
 
-    GeometryResource::Pointer _compoundShapeResource;
+    GeometryResource::Pointer _collisionGeometryResource;
     std::vector<int> _jointMap;
     QVariantMap _originalTextures;
     bool _jointMapCompleted { false };
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
index f276bea05d..346a05a1bf 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -590,10 +590,6 @@ QString ModelEntityItem::getCompoundShapeURL() const {
     return _compoundShapeURL.get();
 }
 
-QString ModelEntityItem::getCollisionShapeURL() const {
-    return getShapeType() == SHAPE_TYPE_COMPOUND ? getCompoundShapeURL() : getModelURL();
-}
-
 void ModelEntityItem::setColor(const glm::u8vec3& value) {
     withWriteLock([&] {
         _color = value;
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
index 75a695f1c0..d9a7e5a743 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
@@ -75,9 +75,6 @@ public:
     static const QString DEFAULT_COMPOUND_SHAPE_URL;
     QString getCompoundShapeURL() const;
 
-    // Returns the URL used for the collision shape
-    QString getCollisionShapeURL() const;
-
     // model related properties
     virtual void setModelURL(const QString& url);
     virtual void setCompoundShapeURL(const QString& url);
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
index 0a08aaa28d..85c53af10a 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::addEntityInternal(EntityItemPointer entity) {
     assert(entity);
     assert(!entity->isDead());
     uint8_t region = _space->getRegion(entity->getSpaceIndex());
-    bool shouldBePhysical = region < workload::Region::R3 && entity->shouldBePhysical();
+    bool maybeShouldBePhysical = (region < workload::Region::R3 || region == workload::Region::UNKNOWN) && entity->shouldBePhysical();
     bool canBeKinematic = region <= workload::Region::R3;
-    if (shouldBePhysical) {
+    if (maybeShouldBePhysical) {
         EntityMotionState* motionState = static_cast<EntityMotionState*>(entity->getPhysicsInfo());
         if (motionState) {
             motionState->setRegion(region);
@@ -330,6 +330,18 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::buildMotionStatesForEntitiesThatNeedThem() {
             continue;
         }
 
+        uint8_t region = _space->getRegion(entity->getSpaceIndex());
+        if (region == workload::Region::UNKNOWN) {
+            // the workload hasn't categorized it yet --> skip for later
+            ++entityItr;
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (region > workload::Region::R2) {
+            // not in physical zone --> remove from list
+            entityItr = _entitiesToAddToPhysics.erase(entityItr);
+            continue;
+        }
+
         if (entity->isReadyToComputeShape()) {
             ShapeRequest shapeRequest(entity);
             ShapeRequests::iterator  requestItr = _shapeRequests.find(shapeRequest);
diff --git a/libraries/workload/src/workload/Region.h b/libraries/workload/src/workload/Region.h
index 43aed9aef4..0262899d01 100644
--- a/libraries/workload/src/workload/Region.h
+++ b/libraries/workload/src/workload/Region.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ public:
         R1 = 0,
         R2,
         R3,
+        R4,
         UNKNOWN,
         INVALID,
     };
@@ -71,4 +72,4 @@ inline uint8_t Region::computeTransitionIndex(uint8_t prevIndex, uint8_t newInde
 
 } // namespace workload
 
-#endif // hifi_workload_Region_h
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif // hifi_workload_Region_h
diff --git a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.cpp b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.cpp
index 47179ad6f7..ade7e47e4d 100644
--- a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.cpp
+++ b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ void RegionState::run(const workload::WorkloadContextPointer& renderContext, con
     // ...
     // inputs[2N] = vector of ids exiting region N
     // inputs[2N + 1] = vector of ids entering region N
-    assert(inputs.size() == 2 * Region::UNKNOWN);
+    //
+    // But we only pass inputs for R1 through R3
+    assert(inputs.size() == 2 * (int32_t)(Region::R3 + 1));
 
     // The id's in each vector are sorted in ascending order
     // because the source vectors are scanned in ascending order.
diff --git a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.h b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.h
index 40db9d4982..9552709d8e 100644
--- a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.h
+++ b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionState.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace workload {
         using JobModel = workload::Job::ModelI<RegionState, Inputs, Config>;
 
         RegionState() {
-            _state.resize(Region::UNKNOWN);
+            _state.resize(Region::R3 + 1);
         }
 
         void configure(const Config& config);
diff --git a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionTracker.cpp b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionTracker.cpp
index 381b92c414..0866c91709 100644
--- a/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionTracker.cpp
+++ b/libraries/workload/src/workload/RegionTracker.cpp
@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ void RegionTracker::run(const WorkloadContextPointer& context, Outputs& outputs)
         //Changes changes;
         space->categorizeAndGetChanges(outChanges);
 
-        // use exit/enter lists for each region less than Region::UNKNOWN
+        // use exit/enter lists for each region less than Region::R4
         outRegionChanges.resize(2 * (workload::Region::NUM_CLASSIFICATIONS - 1));
         for (uint32_t i = 0; i < outChanges.size(); ++i) {
             Space::Change& change = outChanges[i];
-            if (change.prevRegion < Region::UNKNOWN) {
+            if (change.prevRegion < Region::R4) {
                 // EXIT list index = 2 * regionIndex
                 outRegionChanges[2 * change.prevRegion].push_back(change.proxyId);
             }
-            if (change.region < Region::UNKNOWN) {
+            if (change.region < Region::R4) {
                 // ENTER list index = 2 * regionIndex + 1
                 outRegionChanges[2 * change.region + 1].push_back(change.proxyId);
             }
diff --git a/libraries/workload/src/workload/Space.cpp b/libraries/workload/src/workload/Space.cpp
index 747df5f6c4..f045c8311f 100644
--- a/libraries/workload/src/workload/Space.cpp
+++ b/libraries/workload/src/workload/Space.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void Space::categorizeAndGetChanges(std::vector<Space::Change>& changes) {
         if (proxy.region < Region::INVALID) {
             glm::vec3 proxyCenter = glm::vec3(proxy.sphere);
             float proxyRadius = proxy.sphere.w;
-            uint8_t region = Region::UNKNOWN;
+            uint8_t region = Region::R4;
             for (uint32_t j = 0; j < numViews; ++j) {
                 auto& view = _views[j];
                 // for each 'view' we need only increment 'k' below the current value of 'region'