diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index d4e5e5cd6..2ed285a81 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -511,6 +511,20 @@ namespace MWClass
         x = 0;
     }
 
+    void Npc::adjustScale(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, float &scale) const
+    {
+        MWWorld::LiveCellRef<ESM::NPC> *ref =
+            ptr.get<ESM::NPC>();
+
+        const ESM::Race* race =
+                MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Race>().find(ref->mBase->mRace);
+
+        if (ref->mBase->isMale())
+            scale *= race->mData.mHeight.mMale;
+        else
+            scale *= race->mData.mHeight.mFemale;
+    }
+
     MWWorld::Ptr
     Npc::copyToCellImpl(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, MWWorld::CellStore &cell) const
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
index 51e93636d..0ca6a8d69 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ namespace MWClass
             /// \param actor Actor that is resposible for the ID being applied to \a ptr.
             /// \return Any effect?
 
+            virtual void adjustScale (const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, float &scale) const;
+
             virtual void skillUsageSucceeded (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int skill, int usageType) const;
             ///< Inform actor \a ptr that a skill use has succeeded.
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
index c99e42662..843bcf007 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
@@ -104,11 +104,14 @@ namespace MWRender
         mAnimation = new NpcAnimation(mCharacter, mNode,
             MWWorld::Class::get(mCharacter).getInventoryStore (mCharacter), 0, renderHeadOnly());
 
+        float scale=1.f;
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mCharacter).adjustScale(mCharacter, scale);
+        mNode->setScale(Ogre::Vector3(scale));
+
         mNode->setVisible (false);
 
-        Ogre::Vector3 scale = mNode->getScale();
-        mCamera->setPosition(mPosition * scale);
-        mCamera->lookAt(mLookAt * scale);
+        mCamera->setPosition(mPosition * mNode->getScale());
+        mCamera->lookAt(mLookAt * mNode->getScale());
 
         onSetup();
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 9da70beb4..b76a38c46 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -85,11 +85,6 @@ NpcAnimation::NpcAnimation(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, Ogre::SceneNode* node, MWWor
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
     const ESM::Race *race = store.get<ESM::Race>().find(mNpc->mRace);
 
-    float scale = race->mData.mHeight.mMale;
-    if(!mNpc->isMale())
-        scale = race->mData.mHeight.mFemale;
-    node->scale(Ogre::Vector3(scale));
-
     mHeadModel = "meshes\\" + store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().find(mNpc->mHead)->mModel;
     mHairModel = "meshes\\" + store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().find(mNpc->mHair)->mModel;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 3a15582ba..1bab676c3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -885,6 +885,8 @@ void RenderingManager::renderPlayer(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr)
     mPlayer->setAnimation(anim);
     mWater->removeEmitter (ptr);
     mWater->addEmitter (ptr);
+    // apply race height
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->scaleObject(ptr, 1.f);
 }
 
 void RenderingManager::getPlayerData(Ogre::Vector3 &eyepos, float &pitch, float &yaw)