diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/physicssystem.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/physicssystem.cpp
index 9848efe6eb..7d7b237aec 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/physicssystem.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/physicssystem.cpp
@@ -291,12 +291,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     void PhysicsSystem::rotateObject (const std::string& handle, const Ogre::Quaternion& rotation)
     {
-         if (OEngine::Physic::PhysicActor* act = mEngine->getCharacter(handle))
+        if (OEngine::Physic::PhysicActor* act = mEngine->getCharacter(handle))
         {
-            // TODO very dirty hack to avoid crash during setup -> needs cleaning up to allow
-            // start positions others than 0, 0, 0
             act->setRotation(btQuaternion(rotation.x, rotation.y, rotation.z, rotation.w));
         }
+        if (OEngine::Physic::RigidBody* body = mEngine->getRigidBody(handle))
+        {
+            body->getWorldTransform().setRotation(btQuaternion(rotation.x, rotation.y, rotation.z, rotation.w));
+        }
     }
 
     void PhysicsSystem::scaleObject (const std::string& handle, float scale)