diff --git a/src/event_object_movement.c b/src/event_object_movement.c
index 8d682bce63..5f1b3eba77 100644
--- a/src/event_object_movement.c
+++ b/src/event_object_movement.c
@@ -5189,6 +5189,7 @@ bool8 MovementType_FollowPlayer_Moving(struct ObjectEvent *objectEvent, struct S
     if (ObjectEventExecSingleMovementAction(objectEvent, sprite)) {
     #endif
         objectEvent->singleMovementActive = 0;
+        objectEvent->facingDirectionLocked = FALSE;
         if (sprite->sTypeFuncId) // restore nonzero state
             sprite->sTypeFuncId = 1;
     } else if (objectEvent->movementActionId < MOVEMENT_ACTION_EXIT_POKEBALL) {
@@ -5258,6 +5259,15 @@ bool8 FollowablePlayerMovement_Step(struct ObjectEvent *objectEvent, struct Spri
 
     // Follow player
     direction = GetDirectionToFace(x, y, targetX, targetY);
+    // During a script, if player sidesteps or backsteps,
+    // mirror player's direction instead
+    if (ArePlayerFieldControlsLocked()
+        && gObjectEvents[gPlayerAvatar.objectEventId].facingDirection != gObjectEvents[gPlayerAvatar.objectEventId].movementDirection
+    ) {
+        direction = gObjectEvents[gPlayerAvatar.objectEventId].movementDirection;
+        objectEvent->facingDirectionLocked = TRUE;
+    }
+
     MoveCoords(direction, &x, &y);
     #ifdef MB_SIDEWAYS_STAIRS_RIGHT_SIDE // https://github.com/ghoulslash/pokeemerald/tree/sideways_stairs
     GetCollisionAtCoords(objectEvent, x, y, direction); // Sets directionOverwrite for stairs