diff --git a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
index 3981d4f76d..25e1764025 100644
--- a/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Avatar.cpp
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ void Avatar::updateHandMovementAndTouching(float deltaTime) {
         
         if (_interactingOther) {
 
+            _avatarTouch.setHasInteractingOther(true);
             _avatarTouch.setYourBodyPosition(_interactingOther->_position);   
             _avatarTouch.setYourOrientation (_interactingOther->_orientation);
             _avatarTouch.setYourHandPosition(_interactingOther->_joint[ AVATAR_JOINT_RIGHT_FINGERTIPS ].springyPosition);   
@@ -561,6 +562,8 @@ void Avatar::updateHandMovementAndTouching(float deltaTime) {
                     _velocity += vectorFromMyHandToYourHand * force;
                 }
             }
+        } else {
+            _avatarTouch.setHasInteractingOther(false);
         }
     }//if (_isMine)
     
diff --git a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
index 16c8cc64c7..0d2157cbad 100644
--- a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ AvatarTouch::AvatarTouch() {
     _weAreHoldingHands       = false;
     _canReachToOtherAvatar   = false;
     _handsCloseEnoughToGrasp = false;
+    _hasInteractingOther     = false;
     _myOrientation.setToIdentity();
     _yourOrientation.setToIdentity();
 
@@ -36,36 +37,46 @@ AvatarTouch::AvatarTouch() {
     }
 }
 
+
+void AvatarTouch::setHasInteractingOther(bool hasInteractingOther) {
+    _hasInteractingOther = hasInteractingOther;
+}
+
+
 void AvatarTouch::simulate (float deltaTime) {
 
-    glm::vec3 vectorBetweenBodies = _yourBodyPosition - _myBodyPosition;
-    float distanceBetweenBodies = glm::length(vectorBetweenBodies);
-    glm::vec3 directionBetweenBodies = vectorBetweenBodies / distanceBetweenBodies;
-    
-    bool facingEachOther = false;
-    
-    if (( glm::dot(_myOrientation.getFront(), _yourOrientation.getFront()) < -AVATAR_FACING_THRESHOLD)
-    &&  ( glm::dot(_myOrientation.getFront(), directionBetweenBodies     ) >  AVATAR_FACING_THRESHOLD)) {
-        facingEachOther = true;
-    }
+    _canReachToOtherAvatar = false; // default
 
-    if ((distanceBetweenBodies < _reachableRadius)
-    &&  (facingEachOther)) {
-        _vectorBetweenHands = _yourHandPosition - _myHandPosition;
+    if (_hasInteractingOther) {
+
+        glm::vec3 vectorBetweenBodies = _yourBodyPosition - _myBodyPosition;
+        float distanceBetweenBodies = glm::length(vectorBetweenBodies);
+        glm::vec3 directionBetweenBodies = vectorBetweenBodies / distanceBetweenBodies;
         
-        float distanceBetweenHands = glm::length(_vectorBetweenHands);
-        if (distanceBetweenHands < HANDS_CLOSE_ENOUGH_TO_GRASP) {
-            _handsCloseEnoughToGrasp = true;
-        } else {
-            _handsCloseEnoughToGrasp = false;
+        bool facingEachOther = false;
+        
+        if (( glm::dot(_myOrientation.getFront(), _yourOrientation.getFront()) < -AVATAR_FACING_THRESHOLD)      // we're facing each other
+        &&  ( glm::dot(_myOrientation.getFront(), directionBetweenBodies     ) >  AVATAR_FACING_THRESHOLD)) {   // I'm facing you
+            facingEachOther = true;
         }
 
-        _canReachToOtherAvatar = true;
-    } else {
-        _canReachToOtherAvatar = false;
-    }    
+        if ((distanceBetweenBodies < _reachableRadius)
+        &&  (facingEachOther)) {
+            _canReachToOtherAvatar = true;
+
+            _vectorBetweenHands = _yourHandPosition - _myHandPosition;
+            
+            float distanceBetweenHands = glm::length(_vectorBetweenHands);
+            if (distanceBetweenHands < HANDS_CLOSE_ENOUGH_TO_GRASP) {
+                _handsCloseEnoughToGrasp = true;
+            } else {
+                _handsCloseEnoughToGrasp = false;
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
+
 void AvatarTouch::render(glm::vec3 cameraPosition) {
 
     if (_canReachToOtherAvatar) {
diff --git a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
index fb90efa5fd..dd45d3bd44 100644
--- a/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
+++ b/interface/src/AvatarTouch.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ public:
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
     void render(glm::vec3 cameraPosition);
 
+    void setHasInteractingOther(bool hasInteractingOther);
     void setMyHandPosition  (glm::vec3   position   ) { _myHandPosition   = position;    }
     void setYourHandPosition(glm::vec3   position   ) { _yourHandPosition = position;    }
     void setMyOrientation   (Orientation orientation) { _myOrientation    = orientation; }
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ private:
 
     static const int NUM_POINTS = 100;
     
+    bool        _hasInteractingOther;
     bool        _weAreHoldingHands;
     glm::vec3   _point [NUM_POINTS];
     glm::vec3   _myBodyPosition;