diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/windows/Window.qml b/interface/resources/qml/windows/Window.qml
index 35e0fb961c..d22d8ecbe8 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/windows/Window.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/windows/Window.qml
@@ -296,6 +296,10 @@ Fadable {
                 // fall through
 
             default:
+                if (MyAvatar.isAway) {
+                    // If stuck in a window and a key is pressed this should exit paused mode
+                    MyAvatar.isAway = false;
+                }
                 // Consume unmodified keyboard entries while the window is focused, to prevent them
                 // from propagating to the application
                 if (event.modifiers === Qt.NoModifier) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index c46d87607f..29f41c89fd 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ MyAvatar::MyAvatar(RigPointer rig) :
     _isPushing(false),
     _isBeingPushed(false),
     _isBraking(false),
+    _isAway(false),
     _boomLength(ZOOM_DEFAULT),
     _yawSpeed(YAW_SPEED_DEFAULT),
     _pitchSpeed(PITCH_SPEED_DEFAULT),
@@ -2361,6 +2362,15 @@ bool MyAvatar::hasDriveInput() const {
     return fabsf(_driveKeys[TRANSLATE_X]) > 0.0f || fabsf(_driveKeys[TRANSLATE_Y]) > 0.0f || fabsf(_driveKeys[TRANSLATE_Z]) > 0.0f;
 }
 
+void MyAvatar::setAway(bool value) {
+    _isAway = value;
+    if (_isAway) {
+        emit wentAway();
+    } else {
+        emit wentActive();
+    }
+}
+
 // The resulting matrix is used to render the hand controllers, even if the camera is decoupled from the avatar.
 // Specificly, if we are rendering using a third person camera.  We would like to render the hand controllers in front of the camera,
 // not in front of the avatar.
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 0bae2ea390..c4fe86356d 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class MyAvatar : public Avatar {
     Q_PROPERTY(controller::Pose rightHandTipPose READ getRightHandTipPose)
 
     Q_PROPERTY(float energy READ getEnergy WRITE setEnergy)
+    Q_PROPERTY(float isAway READ getIsAway WRITE setAway)
 
     Q_PROPERTY(bool hmdLeanRecenterEnabled READ getHMDLeanRecenterEnabled WRITE setHMDLeanRecenterEnabled)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool characterControllerEnabled READ getCharacterControllerEnabled WRITE setCharacterControllerEnabled)
@@ -328,6 +329,8 @@ signals:
     void energyChanged(float newEnergy);
     void positionGoneTo();
     void onLoadComplete();
+    void wentAway();
+    void wentActive();
 
 private:
 
@@ -385,6 +388,7 @@ private:
     bool _isPushing;
     bool _isBeingPushed;
     bool _isBraking;
+    bool _isAway;
 
     float _boomLength;
     float _yawSpeed; // degrees/sec
@@ -521,6 +525,8 @@ private:
     float getEnergy();
     void setEnergy(float value);
     bool didTeleport();
+    bool getIsAway() const { return _isAway; }
+    void setAway(bool value);
 };
 
 QScriptValue audioListenModeToScriptValue(QScriptEngine* engine, const AudioListenerMode& audioListenerMode);
diff --git a/scripts/system/away.js b/scripts/system/away.js
index 96813031f1..541fe6f679 100644
--- a/scripts/system/away.js
+++ b/scripts/system/away.js
@@ -165,9 +165,36 @@ function goAway(fromStartup) {
     if (!isEnabled || isAway) {
         return;
     }
-
+    
+    // If we're entering away mode from some other state than startup, then we create our move timer immediately.
+    // However if we're just stating up, we need to delay this process so that we don't think the initial teleport
+    // is actually a move.
+    if (fromStartup === undefined || fromStartup === false) {
+        avatarMovedInterval = Script.setInterval(ifAvatarMovedGoActive, BASIC_TIMER_INTERVAL);
+    } else {
+        var WAIT_FOR_MOVE_ON_STARTUP = 3000; // 3 seconds
+        Script.setTimeout(function() {
+            avatarMovedInterval = Script.setInterval(ifAvatarMovedGoActive, BASIC_TIMER_INTERVAL);
+        }, WAIT_FOR_MOVE_ON_STARTUP);
+    }
+    
     UserActivityLogger.toggledAway(true);
+    MyAvatar.isAway = true;
+}
 
+function goActive() {
+    if (!isAway) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    UserActivityLogger.toggledAway(false);
+    MyAvatar.isAway = false;
+}
+
+MyAvatar.wentAway.connect(setAwayProperties)
+MyAvatar.wentActive.connect(setActiveProperties)
+
+function setAwayProperties() {
     isAway = true;
     wasMuted = AudioDevice.getMuted();
     if (!wasMuted) {
@@ -189,27 +216,9 @@ function goAway(fromStartup) {
     wasHmdMounted = HMD.mounted; // always remember the correct state
 
     avatarPosition = MyAvatar.position;
-
-    // If we're entering away mode from some other state than startup, then we create our move timer immediately.
-    // However if we're just stating up, we need to delay this process so that we don't think the initial teleport
-    // is actually a move.
-    if (fromStartup === undefined || fromStartup === false) {
-        avatarMovedInterval = Script.setInterval(ifAvatarMovedGoActive, BASIC_TIMER_INTERVAL);
-    } else {
-        var WAIT_FOR_MOVE_ON_STARTUP = 3000; // 3 seconds
-        Script.setTimeout(function() {
-            avatarMovedInterval = Script.setInterval(ifAvatarMovedGoActive, BASIC_TIMER_INTERVAL);
-        }, WAIT_FOR_MOVE_ON_STARTUP);
-    }
 }
 
-function goActive() {
-    if (!isAway) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    UserActivityLogger.toggledAway(false);
-
+function setActiveProperties() {
     isAway = false;
     if (!wasMuted) {
         AudioDevice.toggleMute();