diff --git a/src/main/fc/rc.c b/src/main/fc/rc.c
index b029d14f19..a904ccef34 100644
--- a/src/main/fc/rc.c
+++ b/src/main/fc/rc.c
@@ -715,16 +715,7 @@ FAST_CODE void processRcCommand(void)
                 if (axis == FD_YAW) {
                     rcCommandf = rcCommand[axis] / rcCommandYawDivider;
                 } else {
-#ifdef USE_POS_HOLD_MODE
-                    if (FLIGHT_MODE(POS_HOLD_MODE)) {
-                        // attenuate rcCommand by the deadband percentage
-                        rcCommandf = rcCommand[axis] / (500.0f - rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband * 5.0f);
-                        rcCommandf *= 0.7f; // attenuate overall stick responsiveness to 70% of normal
-                    } else 
-#endif
-                    {
-                        rcCommandf = rcCommand[axis] / rcCommandDivider;
-                    }
+                    rcCommandf = rcCommand[axis] / rcCommandDivider;
                 }
                 rcDeflection[axis] = rcCommandf;
                 const float rcCommandfAbs = fabsf(rcCommandf);
@@ -760,12 +751,24 @@ FAST_CODE_NOINLINE void updateRcCommands(void)
     isRxDataNew = true;
 
     for (int axis = 0; axis < 3; axis++) {
+        float tmp = MIN(fabsf(rcData[axis] - rxConfig()->midrc), 500.0f); // -500 to 500
 
-        float tmp = MIN(fabsf(rcData[axis] - rxConfig()->midrc), 500.0f);
-        // larger deadband on pitch and roll when in position hold
-        // mulitply pos_hold_deadband percent by 5.0 to get a range where 100% would be 500
-        const float tmpDeadband = (FLIGHT_MODE(POS_HOLD_MODE) && rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband) ? rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband * 5.0f : rcControlsConfig()->deadband;
         if (axis == ROLL || axis == PITCH) {
+#ifdef USE_POS_HOLD_MODE
+            float tmpDeadband = rcControlsConfig()->deadband;
+            if (FLIGHT_MODE(POS_HOLD_MODE)) {
+                if (rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband) {
+                    // if pos_hold_deadband is defined, ignore pitch & roll within deadband zone
+                    tmpDeadband = rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband * 5.0f;
+                    // NB could attenuate RP responsiveness outside deadband here, with tmp * 0.8f or whatever
+                } else {
+                    // if pos_hold_deadband is zero, prevent user adjustment of pitch or roll
+                    tmp = 0;
+                }
+            }
+#else
+            const float tmpDeadband = rcControlsConfig()->deadband;
+#endif
             if (tmp > tmpDeadband) {
                 tmp -= tmpDeadband;
             } else {
@@ -850,7 +853,16 @@ bool isMotorsReversed(void)
 
 void initRcProcessing(void)
 {
+#ifdef USE_POS_HOLD_MODE
+        if (FLIGHT_MODE(POS_HOLD_MODE)) {
+            if (rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband) {
+                rcCommandDivider = 500.0f - rcControlsConfig()->pos_hold_deadband * 5.0f; // pos hold deadband in percent
+            }
+        }
+#else
     rcCommandDivider = 500.0f - rcControlsConfig()->deadband;
+#endif
+
     rcCommandYawDivider = 500.0f - rcControlsConfig()->yaw_deadband;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < THROTTLE_LOOKUP_LENGTH; i++) {
diff --git a/src/main/flight/autopilot.c b/src/main/flight/autopilot.c
index 13b5d70b69..0eb1e2e263 100644
--- a/src/main/flight/autopilot.c
+++ b/src/main/flight/autopilot.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ void resetPositionControl(gpsLocation_t initialTargetLocation) {
     resetPositionControlParams();
 }
 
-bool positionControl(float deadband) {
+bool positionControl(bool useStickAdjustment, float deadband) {
 
     // exit if we don't have suitable data
     if (!STATE(GPS_FIX)) {
@@ -327,9 +327,9 @@ bool positionControl(float deadband) {
     // or in pid.c, when angle rate is calculated
     // if done in pid.c, the same upsampler could be used for GPS and PosHold.
 
-    // if sticks are centered, allow autopilot control, otherwise pilot can fly like a mavic
-    posHoldAngle[AI_ROLL] = (getRcDeflectionAbs(FD_ROLL) < deadband) ? pidSumRoll : 0.0f;
-    posHoldAngle[AI_PITCH] = (getRcDeflectionAbs(FD_PITCH) < deadband) ? pidSumPitch : 0.0f;
+    // if a deadband is set, and sticks are outside deadband, allow pilot control, otherwise hold position
+    posHoldAngle[AI_ROLL] = (useStickAdjustment && getRcDeflectionAbs(FD_ROLL) > deadband) ? 0.0f : pidSumRoll;
+    posHoldAngle[AI_PITCH] = (useStickAdjustment && getRcDeflectionAbs(FD_PITCH) > deadband) ? 0.0f : pidSumPitch;
 
     // note:
     // if FLIGHT_MODE(POS_HOLD_MODE):
diff --git a/src/main/flight/autopilot.h b/src/main/flight/autopilot.h
index 049bb5eac0..b9e942f098 100644
--- a/src/main/flight/autopilot.h
+++ b/src/main/flight/autopilot.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void resetAltitudeControl(void);
 void resetPositionControl(gpsLocation_t initialTargetLocation);
 
 void altitudeControl(float targetAltitudeCm, float taskIntervalS, float verticalVelocity, float targetAltitudeStep);
-bool positionControl(float deadband);
+bool positionControl(bool useStickAdjustment, float deadband);
 
 bool isBelowLandingAltitude(void);
 float getAutopilotThrottle(void);
diff --git a/src/main/flight/pos_hold.c b/src/main/flight/pos_hold.c
index 8b2d00fd19..fb0fa81083 100644
--- a/src/main/flight/pos_hold.c
+++ b/src/main/flight/pos_hold.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void posHoldUpdate(void)
     posHoldUpdateTargetLocation();
 
     if (getIsNewDataForPosHold() && posHold.posHoldIsOK) {
-        posHold.posHoldIsOK = positionControl(posHold.deadband);
+        posHold.posHoldIsOK = positionControl(posHold.useStickAdjustment, posHold.deadband);
     }
 }