diff --git a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
index d313d1cfa1..d982a032cc 100644
--- a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
+++ b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
@@ -3287,6 +3287,7 @@ Messages.subscribe('Hifi-Hand-Disabler');
 Messages.subscribe('Hifi-Hand-Grab');
 Messages.subscribe('Hifi-Hand-RayPick-Blacklist');
 Messages.subscribe('Hifi-Object-Manipulation');
+Messages.subscribe('Hifi-Hand-Drop');
 
 var handleHandMessages = function(channel, message, sender) {
     var data;
@@ -3372,6 +3373,15 @@ var handleHandMessages = function(channel, message, sender) {
             } catch (e) {
                 print("WARNING: handControllerGrab.js -- error parsing Hifi-Hand-RayPick-Blacklist message: " + message);
             }
+        } else if (channel === 'Hifi-Hand-Drop') {
+            if (message === 'left') {
+                leftController.release();
+            } else if (message === 'right') {
+                rightController.release();
+            } else if (message === 'both') {
+                leftController.release();
+                rightController.release();
+            }
         }
     }
 };