diff --git a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
index 6eaaf11f8a..ecda04321f 100644
--- a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
+++ b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
@@ -2103,7 +2103,7 @@ function MyController(hand) {
                     this.autoUnequipCounter = 0;
                 }
 
-                if (this.autoUnequipCounter > 1) {
+                if (this.autoUnequipCounter > 0.25) {
                         // for whatever reason, the held/equipped entity has been pulled away.  ungrab or unequip.
                     print("handControllerGrab -- autoreleasing held or equipped item because it is far from hand." +
                         props.parentID + ", dist = " + dist);