diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 969268c549..318608e3a8 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -154,9 +154,12 @@ MyAvatar::MyAvatar(RigPointer rig) :
             if (recordingInterface->getPlayFromCurrentLocation()) {
                 setRecordingBasis();
             }
+            _wasCharacterControllerEnabled = _characterController.isEnabled();
+            _characterController.setEnabled(false);
         } else {
             clearRecordingBasis();
             useFullAvatarURL(_fullAvatarURLFromPreferences, _fullAvatarModelName);
+            _characterController.setEnabled(_wasCharacterControllerEnabled);
         }
 
         auto audioIO = DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 3cc665b533..00923e78cc 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ private:
     SharedSoundPointer _collisionSound;
 
     MyCharacterController _characterController;
+    bool _wasCharacterControllerEnabled { true };
 
     AvatarWeakPointer _lookAtTargetAvatar;
     glm::vec3 _targetAvatarPosition;