diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index f58ef0809..f71975433 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -269,6 +269,8 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr  getFacedObject() = 0;
             ///< Return pointer to the object the player is looking at, if it is within activation range
 
+            virtual float getMaxActivationDistance() = 0;
+
             /// Returns a pointer to the object the provided object would hit (if within the
             /// specified distance), and the point where the hit occurs. This will attempt to
             /// use the "Head" node, or alternatively the "Bip01 Head" node as a basis.
@@ -548,7 +550,7 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const Ogre::Vector3& worldPos) = 0;
 
             virtual void explodeSpell (const Ogre::Vector3& origin, const ESM::EffectList& effects,
-                                       const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, int rangeType, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName) = 0;
+                                       const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, ESM::RangeType rangeType, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName) = 0;
 
             virtual void activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) = 0;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index 49887e560..4ce3fcaf5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -309,9 +309,11 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         for (std::vector<ESM::ENAMstruct>::const_iterator iter (effects.mList.begin());
             iter!=effects.mList.end(); ++iter)
         {
-            if (iter->mRange != range)
-                continue;
-            found = true;
+            if (iter->mRange == range)
+            {
+                found = true;
+                break;
+            }
         }
         if (!found)
             return;
@@ -766,8 +768,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
         if (!mTarget.isEmpty())
         {
-            if (!mTarget.getClass().isActor() || !mTarget.getClass().getCreatureStats(mTarget).isDead())
-                inflict(mTarget, mCaster, enchantment->mEffects, ESM::RT_Touch);
+            inflict(mTarget, mCaster, enchantment->mEffects, ESM::RT_Touch);
         }
 
         std::string projectileModel;
@@ -851,10 +852,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
         if (!mTarget.isEmpty())
         {
-            if (!mTarget.getClass().isActor() || !mTarget.getClass().getCreatureStats(mTarget).isDead())
-            {
-                inflict(mTarget, mCaster, spell->mEffects, ESM::RT_Touch);
-            }
+            inflict(mTarget, mCaster, spell->mEffects, ESM::RT_Touch);
         }
 
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontrap.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontrap.cpp
index 1472afc08..d153b7e61 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontrap.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontrap.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,39 @@
 #include "actiontrap.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp"
+#include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
+#include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 
 namespace MWWorld
 {
 
     void ActionTrap::executeImp(const Ptr &actor)
     {
-        MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(mTrapSource, actor);
-        cast.mHitPosition = Ogre::Vector3(actor.getRefData().getPosition().pos);
-        cast.cast(mSpellId);
+        Ogre::Vector3 actorPosition(actor.getRefData().getPosition().pos);
+        Ogre::Vector3 trapPosition(mTrapSource.getRefData().getPosition().pos);
+        float activationDistance = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getMaxActivationDistance();
 
+        // GUI calcs if object in activation distance include object and player geometry
+        const float fudgeFactor = 1.25f;
+
+        // Hack: if actor is beyond activation range, then assume actor is using telekinesis
+        // to open door/container.
+        // Note, can't just detonate the trap at the trapped object's location and use the blast
+        // radius, because for most trap spells this is 1 foot, much less than the activation distance.
+        if (trapPosition.distance(actorPosition) < (activationDistance * fudgeFactor))
+        {
+            // assume actor touched trap
+            MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(mTrapSource, actor);
+            cast.mHitPosition = actorPosition;
+            cast.cast(mSpellId);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // assume telekinesis used
+            MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(mTrapSource, mTrapSource);
+            cast.mHitPosition = trapPosition;
+            cast.cast(mSpellId);
+        }
         mTrapSource.getCellRef().setTrap("");
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 8bcfcb421..333f172b9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -3128,7 +3128,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mRendering->spawnEffect(model, textureOverride, worldPos);
     }
 
-    void World::explodeSpell(const Vector3 &origin, const ESM::EffectList &effects, const Ptr &caster, int rangeType,
+    void World::explodeSpell(const Vector3 &origin, const ESM::EffectList &effects, const Ptr &caster, ESM::RangeType rangeType,
                              const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName)
     {
         std::map<MWWorld::Ptr, std::vector<ESM::ENAMstruct> > toApply;
@@ -3187,7 +3187,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             cast.mStack = false;
             ESM::EffectList effects;
             effects.mList = apply->second;
-            cast.inflict(apply->first, caster, effects, (ESM::RangeType)rangeType, false, true);
+            cast.inflict(apply->first, caster, effects, rangeType, false, true);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 9834015ac..84da984f8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             virtual void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const Ogre::Vector3& worldPos);
 
             virtual void explodeSpell (const Ogre::Vector3& origin, const ESM::EffectList& effects,
-                                       const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, int rangeType, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName);
+                                       const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, ESM::RangeType rangeType, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName);
 
             virtual void activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, const MWWorld::Ptr& actor);