diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 9b34edf77..4678df222 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -393,7 +393,8 @@ namespace MWClass
         {
             case Run:
 
-                throw std::runtime_error ("run stance not manually setable for NPCs");
+                stats.mRun = set;
+                break;
 
             case Sneak:
 
@@ -415,7 +416,10 @@ namespace MWClass
         {
             case Run:
 
-                return ignoreForce ? false : stats.mForceRun;
+                if (!ignoreForce && stats.mForceRun)
+                    return true;
+
+                return stats.mRun;
 
             case Sneak:
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
index fa0e46b1a..aeb5f56d5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
         bool mForceRun;
         bool mForceSneak;
+        bool mRun;
         bool mSneak;
         bool mCombat;
 
-        NpcStats() : mForceRun (false), mForceSneak (false), mSneak (false), mCombat (false) {}
+        NpcStats() : mForceRun (false), mForceSneak (false), mRun (false), mSneak (false),
+            mCombat (false) {}
     };
 }