diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f8beb82cb..b3f458f09 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
     Bug #5134: Doors rotation by "Lock" console command is inconsistent
     Bug #5137: Textures with Clamp Mode set to Clamp instead of Wrap are too dark outside the boundaries
     Bug #5149: Failing lock pick attempts isn't always a crime
+    Bug #5161: Creature companions can't be activated when they are knocked down
     Feature #1774: Handle AvoidNode
     Feature #2229: Improve pathfinding AI
     Feature #3025: Analogue gamepad movement controls
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
index ba0bbf97f..855f083af 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
@@ -454,18 +454,15 @@ namespace MWClass
             // otherwise wait until death animation
             if(stats.isDeathAnimationFinished())
                 return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr));
-
-            // death animation is not finished, do nothing
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> (new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
         }
+        else if (!stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat() && !stats.getKnockedDown())
+            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionTalk(ptr));
 
-        if(stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat())
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
+        // Tribunal and some mod companions oddly enough must use open action as fallback
+        if (!getScript(ptr).empty() && ptr.getRefData().getLocals().getIntVar(getScript(ptr), "companion"))
+            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr));
 
-        if(stats.getKnockedDown())
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
-
-        return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionTalk(ptr));
+        return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
     }
 
     MWWorld::ContainerStore& Creature::getContainerStore (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 868ab9d85..0eabe8ff2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -884,22 +884,22 @@ namespace MWClass
             // otherwise wait until death animation
             if(stats.isDeathAnimationFinished())
                 return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr));
+        }
+        else if (!stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat())
+        {
+            if(getCreatureStats(actor).getStance(MWMechanics::CreatureStats::Stance_Sneak) || stats.getKnockedDown())
+                return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr)); // stealing
 
-            // death animation is not finished, do nothing
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> (new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
+            // Can't talk to werewolves
+            if (!getNpcStats(ptr).isWerewolf())
+                return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionTalk(ptr));
         }
 
-        if(stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat())
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
+        // Tribunal and some mod companions oddly enough must use open action as fallback
+        if (!getScript(ptr).empty() && ptr.getRefData().getLocals().getIntVar(getScript(ptr), "companion"))
+            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr));
 
-        if(getCreatureStats(actor).getStance(MWMechanics::CreatureStats::Stance_Sneak) || stats.getKnockedDown())
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionOpen(ptr)); // stealing
-
-        // Can't talk to werewolfs
-        if(getNpcStats(ptr).isWerewolf())
-            return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> (new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
-
-        return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionTalk(ptr));
+        return std::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> (new MWWorld::FailedAction(""));
     }
 
     MWWorld::ContainerStore& Npc::getContainerStore (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)