diff --git a/scripts/system/away.js b/scripts/system/away.js
index 2b2ea8a42b..399b3dc96c 100644
--- a/scripts/system/away.js
+++ b/scripts/system/away.js
@@ -176,9 +176,11 @@ function goAway() {
 
     // tell the Reticle, we want to stop capturing the mouse until we come back
     Reticle.allowMouseCapture = false;
-    if (HMD.active) {
-        Reticle.visible = false;
-    }
+    // Allow users to find their way to other applications, our menus, etc.
+    // For desktop, that means we want the reticle visible.
+    // For HMD, the hmd preview will show the system mouse because of allowMouseCapture,
+    // but we want to turn off our Reticle so that we don't get two in preview and a stuck one in headset.
+    Reticle.visible = !HMD.active;
     wasHmdMounted = safeGetHMDMounted(); // always remember the correct state
 
     avatarPosition = MyAvatar.position;
diff --git a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerPointer.js b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerPointer.js
index e70f704ce7..7b45babf4d 100644
--- a/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerPointer.js
+++ b/scripts/system/controllers/handControllerPointer.js
@@ -410,8 +410,8 @@ function update() {
     if (!Menu.isOptionChecked("First Person")) {
         return turnOffVisualization(); // What to do? menus can be behind hand!
     }
-    if (!Window.hasFocus()) {
-        return turnOffVisualization(); // Don't mess with other apps
+    if (!Window.hasFocus() || !Reticle.allowMouseCapture) {
+        return turnOffVisualization(); // Don't mess with other apps or paused mouse activity
     }
     leftTrigger.update();
     rightTrigger.update();