diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarActionHold.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarActionHold.cpp
index 4dda14e194..12c792e631 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarActionHold.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarActionHold.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void AvatarActionHold::prepareForPhysicsSimulation() {
         // _palmRotationFromRigidBody = avatarRotationInverse * palmRotation;
     });
 
-    activateBody();
+    activateBody(true);
 }
 
 std::shared_ptr<Avatar> AvatarActionHold::getTarget(glm::quat& rotation, glm::vec3& position) {
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.cpp
index e8e1188dc9..95af7b32fe 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.cpp
@@ -237,10 +237,15 @@ void ObjectAction::setAngularVelocity(glm::vec3 angularVelocity) {
     rigidBody->activate();
 }
 
-void ObjectAction::activateBody() {
+void ObjectAction::activateBody(bool forceActivation) {
     auto rigidBody = getRigidBody();
     if (rigidBody) {
-        rigidBody->activate();
+        rigidBody->activate(forceActivation);
+        if (! rigidBody->isActive()) {
+            qDebug() << "ObjectAction::activateBody -- rigidBody->activate() failed" << (void*)rigidBody;
+        }
+    } else {
+        qDebug() << "ObjectAction::activateBody -- no rigid body" << (void*)rigidBody;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.h b/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.h
index 4ca13f2fbf..efab75b802 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/ObjectAction.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ protected:
     virtual void setLinearVelocity(glm::vec3 linearVelocity) override;
     virtual glm::vec3 getAngularVelocity() override;
     virtual void setAngularVelocity(glm::vec3 angularVelocity) override;
-    virtual void activateBody();
+    virtual void activateBody(bool forceActivation = false);
     virtual void forceBodyNonStatic();
 
     EntityItemWeakPointer _ownerEntity;