diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index d7fc56275d..ab48138822 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -2262,7 +2262,11 @@ float MyAvatar::getDomainMaxScale() {
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::setGravity(float gravity) {
-    emit gravityChanged(gravity);
+    _characterController.setGravity(gravity);
+}
+
+float MyAvatar::getGravity() {
+    return _characterController.getGravity();
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::increaseSize() {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index dbdf8f82fb..724a313296 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -146,8 +146,6 @@ class MyAvatar : public Avatar {
     Q_PROPERTY(float hmdRollControlDeadZone READ getHMDRollControlDeadZone WRITE setHMDRollControlDeadZone)
     Q_PROPERTY(float hmdRollControlRate READ getHMDRollControlRate WRITE setHMDRollControlRate)
     
-    Q_PROPERTY(float gravity WRITE updateGravity NOTIFY gravityChanged);
-    
     const QString DOMINANT_LEFT_HAND = "left";
     const QString DOMINANT_RIGHT_HAND = "right";
 
@@ -543,6 +541,7 @@ public slots:
     float getDomainMaxScale();
 
     void setGravity(float gravity);
+    float getGravity();
 
     void goToLocation(const glm::vec3& newPosition,
                       bool hasOrientation = false, const glm::quat& newOrientation = glm::quat(),
@@ -596,7 +595,6 @@ signals:
     void wentActive();
     void skeletonChanged();
     void dominantHandChanged(const QString& hand);
-    void gravityChanged(const float gravity);
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
index 36a4c75168..a81e1d8624 100755
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 const btVector3 LOCAL_UP_AXIS(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
 const float JUMP_SPEED = 3.5f;
 const float MAX_FALL_HEIGHT = 20.0f;
-const float DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY = -5.0f;
+float DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY = -5.0f;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_STATE_CHANGE
 #define SET_STATE(desiredState, reason) setState(desiredState, reason)
@@ -354,6 +354,27 @@ static const char* stateToStr(CharacterController::State state) {
 }
 #endif // #ifdef DEBUG_STATE_CHANGE
 
+void CharacterController::updateGravity() {
+    int16_t collisionGroup = computeCollisionGroup();
+    if (_state == State::Hover || collisionGroup == BULLET_COLLISION_GROUP_COLLISIONLESS) {
+        _gravity = 0.0f;
+    } else {
+        _gravity = DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY;
+    }
+    if (_rigidBody) {
+        _rigidBody->setGravity(_gravity * _currentUp);
+    }
+}
+
+
+void CharacterController::setGravity(float gravity) {
+    DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY = gravity;
+}
+
+float CharacterController::getGravity() {
+    return DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY;
+}
+
 #ifdef DEBUG_STATE_CHANGE
 void CharacterController::setState(State desiredState, const char* reason) {
 #else
@@ -372,20 +393,6 @@ void CharacterController::setState(State desiredState) {
     }
 }
 
-void CharacterController::updateGravity(float gravity = DEFAULT_CHARACTER_GRAVITY) {
-    int16_t collisionGroup = computeCollisionGroup();
-    if (_state == State::Hover || collisionGroup == BULLET_COLLISION_GROUP_COLLISIONLESS) {
-        _gravity = 0.0f;
-    } else {
-        _gravity = gravity;
-    }
-    if (_rigidBody) {
-        _rigidBody->setGravity(_gravity * _currentUp);
-    }
-    emit gravityChanged();
-}
-
-
 void CharacterController::setLocalBoundingBox(const glm::vec3& minCorner, const glm::vec3& scale) {
     float x = scale.x;
     float z = scale.z;
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
index f412e09956..b7ea17fc71 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/CharacterController.h
@@ -43,20 +43,17 @@ const btScalar MIN_CHARACTER_MOTOR_TIMESCALE = 0.05f;
 
 class CharacterController : public btCharacterControllerInterface {
 
-    Q_PROPERTY(float gravity WRITE updateGravity NOTIFY gravityChanged);
-
-signals:
-    void gravityChanged();
-
 public:
     CharacterController();
     virtual ~CharacterController();
-    void updateGravity(float gravity);
     bool needsRemoval() const;
     bool needsAddition() const;
     virtual void setDynamicsWorld(btDynamicsWorld* world);
     btCollisionObject* getCollisionObject() { return _rigidBody; }
 
+    void setGravity(float gravity);
+    float getGravity();
+
     virtual void updateShapeIfNecessary() = 0;
 
     // overrides from btCharacterControllerInterface
@@ -136,7 +133,7 @@ protected:
 #endif
 
     virtual void updateMassProperties() = 0;
-    void updateGravity(float gravity);
+    void updateGravity();
     void updateUpAxis(const glm::quat& rotation);
     bool checkForSupport(btCollisionWorld* collisionWorld);