diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 2f7faec198..af49aa1e3c 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -2740,7 +2740,8 @@ void MyAvatar::harvestResultsFromPhysicsSimulation(float deltaTime) {
         position = getWorldPosition();
         orientation = getWorldOrientation();
         if (_characterController.needsSafeLandingSupport() && !_goToPending) {
-            _goToPending = true;
+            _characterController.resetStuckCounter();
+            _physicsSafetyPending = true;
             _goToSafe = true;
             _goToPosition = position;
         }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyCharacterController.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyCharacterController.cpp
index ae9d7d39ef..3a25721528 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyCharacterController.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyCharacterController.cpp
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ void MyCharacterController::handleChangedCollisionMask() {
 }
 
 bool MyCharacterController::needsSafeLandingSupport() const {
-    return _isStuck && 0 == (_numStuckFrames % NUM_FRAMES_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY);
+    return _isStuck && _numStuckSubsteps >= NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY;
 }
 
 btConvexHullShape* MyCharacterController::computeShape() const {
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
index 137f753921..dd0e2ee3e1 100755
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
@@ -348,16 +348,19 @@ bool CharacterController::checkForSupport(btCollisionWorld* collisionWorld) {
     // If there's deep penetration and big impulse we're probably stuck.
     const float STUCK_PENETRATION = -0.05f; // always negative into the object.
     const float STUCK_IMPULSE = 500.0f;
-    probablyStuck = probablyStuck || (deepestDistance < STUCK_PENETRATION && strongestImpulse > STUCK_IMPULSE);
+    probablyStuck = probablyStuck
+        || deepestDistance < 2.0f * STUCK_PENETRATION
+        || strongestImpulse > 2.0f * STUCK_IMPULSE
+        || (deepestDistance < STUCK_PENETRATION && strongestImpulse > STUCK_IMPULSE);
 
     if (_isStuck != probablyStuck) {
         ++_stuckTransitionCount;
-        if (_stuckTransitionCount == NUM_FRAMES_FOR_STUCK_TRANSITION) {
+        if (_stuckTransitionCount > NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_STUCK_TRANSITION) {
             // we've been in this "probablyStuck" state for several consecutive frames
             // --> make it official by changing state
             _isStuck = probablyStuck;
-            // start _numStuckFrames at NUM_FRAMES_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY so SafeLanding tries to help immediately
-            _numStuckFrames = NUM_FRAMES_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY;
+            // start _numStuckSubsteps at NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY so SafeLanding tries to help immediately
+            _numStuckSubsteps = NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY;
             _stuckTransitionCount = 0;
             if (_isStuck) {
                 _physicsEngine->addContactAddedCallback(flipBackfaceTriangleNormals);
@@ -369,7 +372,7 @@ bool CharacterController::checkForSupport(btCollisionWorld* collisionWorld) {
     } else {
         _stuckTransitionCount = 0;
         if (_isStuck) {
-            ++_numStuckFrames;
+            ++_numStuckSubsteps;
             _flippedThisFrame = false;
         }
     }
@@ -795,6 +798,8 @@ void CharacterController::applyMotor(int index, btScalar dt, btVector3& worldVel
 }
 
 void CharacterController::computeNewVelocity(btScalar dt, btVector3& velocity) {
+    btVector3 currentVelocity = velocity;
+
     if (velocity.length2() < MIN_TARGET_SPEED_SQUARED) {
         velocity = btVector3(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
     }
@@ -833,6 +838,14 @@ void CharacterController::computeNewVelocity(btScalar dt, btVector3& velocity) {
     // Note the differences between these two variables:
     // _targetVelocity = ideal final velocity according to input
     // velocity = real final velocity after motors are applied to current velocity
+
+    bool gettingStuck = !_isStuck && _stuckTransitionCount > 1 && _state == State::Hover;
+    if (gettingStuck && velocity.length2() > currentVelocity.length2()) {
+        // we are probably trying to fly fast into a mesh obstacle
+        // which is causing us to tickle the "stuck" detection code
+        // so we average our new velocity with currentVeocity to prevent a "safe landing" response
+        velocity = 0.5f * (velocity + currentVelocity);
+    }
 }
 
 void CharacterController::computeNewVelocity(btScalar dt, glm::vec3& velocity) {
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
index 88b709668c..d736487d20 100755
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ const uint32_t PENDING_FLAG_REMOVE_DETAILED_FROM_SIMULATION = 1U << 7;
 
 const float DEFAULT_MIN_FLOOR_NORMAL_DOT_UP = cosf(PI / 3.0f);
 
-const uint32_t NUM_FRAMES_FOR_STUCK_TRANSITION = 6; // mainloop frames
-const uint32_t NUM_FRAMES_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY = 40; // mainloop frames
+const uint32_t NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_STUCK_TRANSITION = 6; // physics substeps
+const uint32_t NUM_SUBSTEPS_FOR_SAFE_LANDING_RETRY = 40; // physics substeps
 
 class btRigidBody;
 class btCollisionWorld;
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ public:
     void setSeated(bool isSeated) { _isSeated = isSeated;  }
     bool getSeated() { return _isSeated; }
 
+    void resetStuckCounter() { _numStuckSubsteps = 0; }
+
 protected:
 #ifdef DEBUG_STATE_CHANGE
     void setState(State state, const char* reason);
@@ -223,7 +225,7 @@ protected:
     uint32_t _pendingFlags { 0 };
     uint32_t _previousFlags { 0 };
     uint32_t _stuckTransitionCount { 0 };
-    uint32_t _numStuckFrames { 0 };
+    uint32_t _numStuckSubsteps { 0 };
 
     bool _inWorld { false };
     bool _zoneFlyingAllowed { true };