diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
index 8f780355db..794e56b262 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTree.cpp
@@ -355,11 +355,11 @@ bool EntityTree::updateEntity(EntityItemPointer entity, const EntityItemProperti
                 } else if (submittedID == senderID) {
                     // the sender is trying to take or continue ownership
                     if (entity->getSimulatorID().isNull()) {
-                        // the sender it taking ownership
+                        // the sender is taking ownership
                         properties.promoteSimulationPriority(RECRUIT_SIMULATION_PRIORITY);
                         simulationBlocked = false;
                     } else if (entity->getSimulatorID() == senderID) {
-                        // the sender is asserting ownership
+                        // the sender is asserting ownership, maybe changing priority
                         simulationBlocked = false;
                     } else {
                         // the sender is trying to steal ownership from another simulator
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
index a688d521d6..33ac887f4f 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/EntityMotionState.cpp
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ void EntityMotionState::handleEasyChanges(uint32_t& flags) {
         // (1) we own it but may need to change the priority OR...
         // (2) we don't own it but should bid (because a local script has been changing physics properties)
         uint8_t newPriority = isLocallyOwned() ? _entity->getSimulationOwner().getPriority() : _entity->getSimulationOwner().getPendingPriority();
-        _outgoingPriority = glm::max(_outgoingPriority, newPriority);
+        upgradeOutgoingPriority(newPriority);
 
         // reset bid expiry so that we bid ASAP
         _nextOwnershipBid = 0;
@@ -403,7 +403,8 @@ bool EntityMotionState::remoteSimulationOutOfSync(uint32_t simulationStep) {
     }
 
     if (_entity->dynamicDataNeedsTransmit()) {
-        _outgoingPriority = _entity->hasActions() ? SCRIPT_GRAB_SIMULATION_PRIORITY : SCRIPT_POKE_SIMULATION_PRIORITY;
+        uint8_t priority = _entity->hasActions() ? SCRIPT_GRAB_SIMULATION_PRIORITY : SCRIPT_POKE_SIMULATION_PRIORITY;
+        upgradeOutgoingPriority(priority);
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -502,17 +503,21 @@ bool EntityMotionState::shouldSendUpdate(uint32_t simulationStep) {
         // we don't own the simulation
 
         // NOTE: we do not volunteer to own kinematic or static objects
-        uint8_t insufficientPriority = _body->isStaticOrKinematicObject() ? VOLUNTEER_SIMULATION_PRIORITY : 0;
+        uint8_t volunteerPriority = _body->isStaticOrKinematicObject() ? VOLUNTEER_SIMULATION_PRIORITY : 0;
 
-        bool shouldBid = _outgoingPriority > insufficientPriority && // but we would like to own it AND
+        bool shouldBid = _outgoingPriority > volunteerPriority && // but we would like to own it AND
                 usecTimestampNow() > _nextOwnershipBid; // it is time to bid again
         if (shouldBid && _outgoingPriority < _entity->getSimulationPriority()) {
-            // we are insufficiently interested so clear our interest
+            // we are insufficiently interested so clear _outgoingPriority
             // and reset the bid expiry
             _outgoingPriority = 0;
             _nextOwnershipBid = usecTimestampNow() + USECS_BETWEEN_OWNERSHIP_BIDS;
         }
         return shouldBid;
+    } else {
+        // When we own the simulation: make sure _outgoingPriority is not less than current owned priority
+        // because: an _outgoingPriority of zero indicates that we should drop ownership when we have it.
+        upgradeOutgoingPriority(_entity->getSimulationPriority());
     }
 
     return remoteSimulationOutOfSync(simulationStep);
@@ -618,8 +623,10 @@ void EntityMotionState::sendUpdate(OctreeEditPacketSender* packetSender, uint32_
         _entity->setPendingOwnershipPriority(_outgoingPriority, now);
         // don't forget to remember that we have made a bid
         _entity->rememberHasSimulationOwnershipBid();
-        // ...then reset _outgoingPriority in preparation for the next frame
+        // ...then reset _outgoingPriority
         _outgoingPriority = 0;
+        // _outgoingPrioriuty will be re-computed before next bid,
+        // or will be set to agree with ownership priority should we win the bid
     } else if (_outgoingPriority != _entity->getSimulationPriority()) {
         // we own the simulation but our desired priority has changed
         if (_outgoingPriority == 0) {