diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index 8c6da4a31..6c69c457b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -273,7 +273,14 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
                 if(dir.length() >= 0.1f)
                 {
-                    if(dir.y < 0.0f)
+                    if(std::abs(dir.x/2.0f) > std::abs(dir.y))
+                    {
+                        if(dir.x > 0.0f)
+                            newstate = CharState_WalkRight;
+                        else if(dir.x < 0.0f)
+                            newstate = CharState_WalkLeft;
+                    }
+                    else if(dir.y < 0.0f)
                         newstate = CharState_WalkBack;
                     else
                         newstate = CharState_WalkForward;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 7e52ef3d8..262945c02 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ static const struct {
 
     { CharState_WalkForward, "walkforward", Ogre::Vector3(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
     { CharState_WalkBack, "walkback", Ogre::Vector3(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
+    { CharState_WalkLeft, "walkleft", Ogre::Vector3(1.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f) },
+    { CharState_WalkRight, "walkright", Ogre::Vector3(1.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f) },
 
     { CharState_Dead, "death1", Ogre::Vector3(1.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
 };
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
index d773c85b2..6d8b3386c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ enum CharacterState {
 
     CharState_WalkForward,
     CharState_WalkBack,
+    CharState_WalkLeft,
+    CharState_WalkRight,
 
     CharState_Dead
 };