diff --git a/src/runtime-three/player-locomotion.ts b/src/runtime-three/player-locomotion.ts
index 4f438cc4..cdc6f485 100644
--- a/src/runtime-three/player-locomotion.ts
+++ b/src/runtime-three/player-locomotion.ts
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ export function stepPlayerLocomotion(
   const canUseImmediateGrounding =
     options.previousLocomotionState === undefined ||
     options.previousLocomotionState.grounded ||
-    options.verticalVelocity <= VERTICAL_ASCENT_EPSILON;
+    Math.abs(options.verticalVelocity) <= VERTICAL_ASCENT_EPSILON;
   const currentlyGrounded =
     currentGroundProbe.grounded &&
     !ascendingFromPreviousFrame &&