diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 856f5ffcf9..1de8b353b2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1571,9 +1571,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         const MWWorld::Class& cls = target.getClass();
         const MWMechanics::CreatureStats& stats = cls.getCreatureStats(target);
         const MWMechanics::AiSequence& seq = stats.getAiSequence();
-        return cls.isNpc() && !attacker.isEmpty() && !seq.isInCombat(attacker) && !isAggressive(target, attacker)
-            && !seq.isEngagedWithActor() && !stats.getAiSequence().isInPursuit()
-            && !cls.getNpcStats(target).isWerewolf()
+        return cls.isNpc() && !attacker.isEmpty() && !isAggressive(target, attacker) && !seq.isEngagedWithActor()
+            && !stats.getAiSequence().isInPursuit() && !cls.getNpcStats(target).isWerewolf()
             && stats.getMagicEffects().getOrDefault(ESM::MagicEffect::Vampirism).getMagnitude() <= 0;
     }
 
@@ -1864,6 +1863,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
     bool MechanicsManager::isAggressive(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& target)
     {
+        // If already in combat with target, consider aggressive
+        if (ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr).getAiSequence().isInCombat(target))
+            return true;
+
         // Don't become aggressive if a calm effect is active, since it would cause combat to cycle on/off as
         // combat is activated here and then canceled by the calm effect
         if ((ptr.getClass().isNpc()