diff --git a/src/app/App.tsx b/src/app/App.tsx
index d6def651..c04f94ea 100644
--- a/src/app/App.tsx
+++ b/src/app/App.tsx
@@ -4899,9 +4899,7 @@ export function App({ store, initialStatusMessage }: AppProps) {
         return;
       }
 
-      const pointerCaptured =
-        activeNavigationMode === "firstPerson" &&
-        firstPersonTelemetry?.pointerLocked === true;
+      const pointerCaptured = firstPersonTelemetry?.pointerLocked === true;
 
       if (pointerCaptured) {
         return;
@@ -4916,7 +4914,7 @@ export function App({ store, initialStatusMessage }: AppProps) {
     return () => {
       window.removeEventListener("keydown", handleWindowKeyDown);
     };
-  }, [activeNavigationMode, editorState.toolMode, firstPersonTelemetry]);
+  }, [editorState.toolMode, firstPersonTelemetry]);
 
   const applyProjectName = () => {
     const normalizedName = projectNameDraft.trim() || DEFAULT_PROJECT_NAME;
@@ -13359,11 +13357,7 @@ export function App({ store, initialStatusMessage }: AppProps) {
                 <div className="stat-card">
                   <div className="label">Pointer Lock</div>
                   <div className="value">
-                    {activeNavigationMode === "firstPerson"
-                      ? firstPersonTelemetry?.pointerLocked
-                        ? "active"
-                        : "idle"
-                      : "not used"}
+                    {firstPersonTelemetry?.pointerLocked ? "active" : "idle"}
                   </div>
                 </div>
                 <div className="stat-card">
diff --git a/src/runtime-three/runtime-host.ts b/src/runtime-three/runtime-host.ts
index 6872891f..4c351967 100644
--- a/src/runtime-three/runtime-host.ts
+++ b/src/runtime-three/runtime-host.ts
@@ -969,13 +969,56 @@ export class RuntimeHost {
         this.runtimeMessageHandler?.(message);
       },
       setPlayerControllerTelemetry: (telemetry) => {
+        const pointerLockReleasedWithEscapeTargetClear =
+          this.currentPlayerControllerTelemetry?.pointerLocked === true &&
+          telemetry !== null &&
+          telemetry.pointerLocked === false &&
+          this.activeController === this.thirdPersonController &&
+          this.activeRuntimeTargetReference !== null &&
+          this.resolveRuntimePlayerInputBindings().keyboard.clearTarget ===
+            "Escape";
+
         this.currentPlayerControllerTelemetry = telemetry;
         this.currentPlayerAudioHooks = telemetry?.hooks.audio ?? null;
+
+        if (pointerLockReleasedWithEscapeTargetClear) {
+          this.clearActiveRuntimeTarget();
+          this.requestRuntimePointerLock();
+        }
+
         this.playerControllerTelemetryHandler?.(telemetry);
       }
     };
   }
 
+  private requestRuntimePointerLock() {
+    if (
+      document.pointerLockElement === this.domElement ||
+      (this.activeController !== this.firstPersonController &&
+        this.activeController !== this.thirdPersonController)
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const pointerLockCapableElement = this.domElement as HTMLCanvasElement & {
+      requestPointerLock?: () => void | Promise<void>;
+    };
+
+    if (typeof pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock !== "function") {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const pointerLockResult = pointerLockCapableElement.requestPointerLock();
+
+      if (pointerLockResult instanceof Promise) {
+        pointerLockResult.catch(() => {});
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Browser Escape handling can reject immediate recapture; clearing wins.
+    }
+  }
+
   private resolvePlayerVolumeState(feetPosition: {
     x: number;
     y: number;