diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 97cdf3f49..73a6f2c9c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ void CharacterController::playGroup(const std::string &groupname, int mode, int
             while(count-- > 0)
                 mAnimQueue.push_back(groupname);
             mCurrentGroup = groupname;
+            mState = CharState_SpecialIdle;
             mAnimation->setAccumulation(Ogre::Vector3::ZERO);
             mAnimation->play(mCurrentGroup, ((mode==2) ? "loop start" : "start"));
         }
@@ -165,6 +166,8 @@ void CharacterController::setState(CharacterState state)
     mAnimQueue.clear();
     switch(mState)
     {
+        case CharState_SpecialIdle:
+            break;
         case CharState_Idle:
             mCurrentGroup = "idle";
             mAnimation->setAccumulation(Ogre::Vector3::ZERO);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
index 902b8cc36..47bb27e83 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 {
 
 enum CharacterState {
+    CharState_SpecialIdle, /* When running a PlayGroup/LoopGroup animation. */
     CharState_Idle,
     CharState_Dead
 };