diff --git a/src/k_collide.c b/src/k_collide.c
index 52df67007..51dd64b98 100644
--- a/src/k_collide.c
+++ b/src/k_collide.c
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ boolean K_BubbleShieldReflect(mobj_t *t1, mobj_t *t2)
 		t2->player->attractionattack = 0;
 		t2->player->attractionattack_hipower = 0;
 		t2->player->attractionboost = 0;
-		t2->player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+		K_DisableSeekingReticule(t2->player);
 	}
 
 	S_StartSound(t1, sfx_s3k44);
diff --git a/src/k_items.c b/src/k_items.c
index 31ded342a..d9e79495e 100644
--- a/src/k_items.c
+++ b/src/k_items.c
@@ -2309,6 +2309,7 @@ void K_PlayerItemThink(player_t *player, boolean onground)
 			//K_PlayAttackTaunt(player->mo);
 			K_SetItemOut(player, KITEM_JAWZ, IF_ITEMOUT|IF_SEEKING);
 			S_StartSound(player->mo, sfx_s3k3a);
+			K_EnableSeekingReticule(player, false);
 
 			for (moloop = 0; moloop < player->itemamount; moloop++)
 			{
@@ -2344,7 +2345,7 @@ void K_PlayerItemThink(player_t *player, boolean onground)
 
 			if (player->itemamount <= 0)
 			{
-				player->itemflags &= ~IF_SEEKING;
+				K_DisableSeekingReticule(player);
 			}
 		}
 		break;
@@ -2485,16 +2486,16 @@ void K_PlayerItemThink(player_t *player, boolean onground)
 						{
 							S_StopSoundByID(player->mo, sfx_vwre);
 						}
-						player->itemflags |= IF_SEEKING;
+						K_EnableSeekingReticule(player, false);
 						player->bananadrag += 4;
 					}
 					else
 					{
-						player->itemflags |= IF_SEEKING;
 						effectscale = Easing_Linear(CLAMP(FixedDiv(player->attractioncharge, ATTRACTIONCHARGETIME), 0, FRACUNIT),
 							player->mo->scale/4,
 							player->mo->scale/2
 						);
+						K_EnableSeekingReticule(player, false);
 					}
 
 					// stolen from machine water breathing
@@ -2565,7 +2566,7 @@ void K_PlayerItemThink(player_t *player, boolean onground)
 							K_BotResetItemConfirm(player, false);
 						}
 						
-						player->itemflags |= (IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+						K_EnableSeekingReticule(player, true);
 					}
 					player->attractioncharge = 0;
 				}
@@ -2870,6 +2871,20 @@ void K_DoEggMineStrip(mobj_t *tmo, mobj_t *inflictor, mobj_t *source)
 	}
 }
 
+void K_EnableSeekingReticule(player_t *player, boolean passive)
+{
+	player->itemflags |= IF_SEEKING;
+	if (passive)
+	{
+		player->itemflags |= IF_PASSIVESEEKING;
+	}
+}
+
+void K_DisableSeekingReticule(player_t *player)
+{
+	player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+}
+
 void K_KartSeekingReticule(player_t *player)
 {
 	// seeking item reticule
diff --git a/src/k_items.h b/src/k_items.h
index 2653c6314..ab234bb3e 100644
--- a/src/k_items.h
+++ b/src/k_items.h
@@ -228,6 +228,8 @@ void K_AltShrinkPityIncrease(player_t *player);
 void K_SpawnEggMineBumpEffect(mobj_t *mo);
 void K_DoEggMineStrip(mobj_t *tmo, mobj_t *inflictor, mobj_t *source);
 
+void K_EnableSeekingReticule(player_t *player, boolean passive);
+void K_DisableSeekingReticule(player_t *player);
 void K_KartSeekingReticule(player_t *player);
 player_t *K_FindJawzTarget(mobj_t *actor, player_t *source);
 
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 26b20c36b..9da0b8323 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ static void K_SetPlayerBumped(player_t *player, mobj_t *comparemobj)
 			comparemobj->player->attractionattack = 0;
 			comparemobj->player->attractionattack_hipower = 0;
 			comparemobj->player->attractionboost = 0;
-			comparemobj->player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+			K_DisableSeekingReticule(comparemobj->player);
 		}
 	}
 	else if (pshield == KSHIELD_NONE)
@@ -5454,9 +5454,9 @@ void K_DropHnextList(player_t *player)
 	else if ((player->itemflags & IF_ITEMOUT)
 	&& (dropall || (--player->itemamount <= 0)))
 	{
+		K_DisableSeekingReticule(player);
 		player->itemamount = 0;
 		K_UnsetItemOut(player);
-		player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
 		player->itemtype = KITEM_NONE;
 	}
 }
@@ -5487,7 +5487,7 @@ void K_PopPlayerShield(player_t *player)
 			player->attractionattack = 0;
 			player->attractionattack_hipower = 0;
 			player->attractionboost = 0;
-			player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+			K_DisableSeekingReticule(player);
 			break;
 		case KSHIELD_BUBBLE:
 			K_BreakBubbleShield(player);
@@ -11906,7 +11906,7 @@ void K_KartAttractHomingAttack(player_t *player)
 		player->attractionattack = 0;
 		player->attractionattack_hipower = false;
 		player->attractionboost = 0;
-		player->itemflags &= ~(IF_SEEKING|IF_PASSIVESEEKING);
+		K_DisableSeekingReticule(player);
 	}
 }
 #undef TargetThreshold