diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f7c0dd2e29..955ad01a99 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
     Bug #5622: Can't properly interact with the console when in pause menu
     Bug #5639: Tooltips cover Messageboxes
     Bug #5644: Summon effects running on the player during game initialization cause crashes
+    Bug #5656: Sneaking characters block hits while standing
     Feature #390: 3rd person look "over the shoulder"
     Feature #2386: Distant Statics in the form of Object Paging
     Feature #4894: Consider actors as obstacles for pathfinding
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index b0792a9e58..657f2e2eca 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -270,6 +270,7 @@ void CharacterController::refreshHitRecoilAnims(CharacterState& idle)
             mCurrentHit = "shield";
             MWRender::Animation::AnimPriority priorityBlock (Priority_Hit);
             priorityBlock[MWRender::Animation::BoneGroup_LeftArm] = Priority_Block;
+            priorityBlock[MWRender::Animation::BoneGroup_LowerBody] = Priority_WeaponLowerBody;
             mAnimation->play(mCurrentHit, priorityBlock, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_All, true, 1, "block start", "block stop", 0.0f, 0);
         }
 
@@ -289,6 +290,8 @@ void CharacterController::refreshHitRecoilAnims(CharacterState& idle)
                 mUpperBodyState = UpperCharState_Nothing;
             }
         }
+        if (mHitState != CharState_None)
+            idle = CharState_None;
     }
     else if(!mAnimation->isPlaying(mCurrentHit))
     {
@@ -308,8 +311,6 @@ void CharacterController::refreshHitRecoilAnims(CharacterState& idle)
         mAnimation->disable(mCurrentHit);
         mAnimation->play(mCurrentHit, Priority_Knockdown, MWRender::Animation::BlendMask_All, true, 1, "loop stop", "stop", 0.0f, 0);
     }
-    if (mHitState != CharState_None)
-        idle = CharState_None;
 }
 
 void CharacterController::refreshJumpAnims(const std::string& weapShortGroup, JumpingState jump, CharacterState& idle, bool force)