diff --git a/chameleonic.p8 b/chameleonic.p8
index e21d16a..022ce99 100644
--- a/chameleonic.p8
+++ b/chameleonic.p8
@@ -579,6 +579,14 @@ function player:update()
   -- todo: other anim stuff
   xs[#xs].px=0
   xs[#xs].py=0
+  xs[1].update=function(s) 
+   if (s.rope) s.rope:prevent_highlight(true) 
+   return true
+  end
+  xs[#xs].update=function(s) 
+   if (s.rope) s.rope:prevent_highlight(false) 
+   return true
+  end
   return xs
  end
 
@@ -871,7 +879,7 @@ end
 
 function rope:draw(artificial_dx,artificial_dy)
  local points,highlight=self:_tug(true)
- if (self:busy()) highlight=nil
+ if (self:busy() or self._prevent_highlight) highlight=nil
  if (self.state.name=="done") return
  local perc_to_show=1.0
  if (self.state.name=="destroy") perc_to_show=(1.0-self.state.frame/5)^2
@@ -1392,6 +1400,15 @@ function rope:tug()
  self:_tidy_up_gen()
 end
 
+function rope:prevent_highlight(prevent)
+ if prevent then
+  local points,highlight=self:_tug(true)
+  if (self:busy() or highlight==nil) self._prevent_highlight=true
+ else
+  self._prevent_highlight=false
+ end
+end
+
 function rope:_tug(hypothetically)
  local ancs=self:_anchors_simplified()
  local touched={}