diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/hifi/toolbars/ToolbarButton.qml b/interface/resources/qml/hifi/toolbars/ToolbarButton.qml
index a3be4533d2..4356b18253 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/hifi/toolbars/ToolbarButton.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/hifi/toolbars/ToolbarButton.qml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Item {
     property var subImage;
     property int yOffset: 0
     property int buttonState: 0
+    property int hoverOffset: 0
     property var toolbar;
     property real size: 50 // toolbar ? toolbar.buttonSize : 50
     width: size; height: size
@@ -36,9 +37,15 @@ Item {
         }
     }
 
-
+    function updateOffset() {
+        yOffset = size * (buttonState + hoverOffset);
+    }
     onButtonStateChanged: {
-        yOffset = size * buttonState
+        hoverOffset = 0; // subtle: show the new state without hover. don't wait for mouse to be moved away
+        // The above is per UX design, but ALSO avoid a subtle issue that would be a problem because
+        // the hand controllers don't move the mouse when not triggered, so releasing the trigger would
+        // never show unhovered.
+        updateOffset();
     }
 
     Component.onCompleted: {
@@ -58,8 +65,18 @@ Item {
     }
 
     MouseArea {
+        id: mouseArea
+        hoverEnabled: true
         anchors.fill: parent
         onClicked: button.clicked();
+        onEntered: {
+            hoverOffset = 2;
+            updateOffset();
+        }
+        onExited: {
+            hoverOffset = 0;
+            updateOffset();
+        }
     }
 }