diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/actor.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/actor.cpp
index 06681a1e12..7774c736d2 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/actor.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/actor.cpp
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ int DoActorBeginJump(DSWActor* actor)
     else
         actor->setStateGroup(NAME_Jump);
 
-    actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride = nullptr;
+    actor->user.Flags2 &= ~SPR2_FALLOVERRIDE;
 
     //DO NOT CALL DoActorJump! DoActorStopFall can cause an infinite loop and
     //stack overflow if it is called.
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ int DoActorBeginFall(DSWActor* actor)
     else
         actor->setStateGroup(NAME_Fall);
 
-    if (actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride)
+    if (actor->user.Flags2 & SPR2_FALLOVERRIDE)
     {
         NewStateGroup(actor, actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride);
     }
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/game.h b/source/games/sw/src/game.h
index 7b164acecd..64596c6186 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/game.h
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/game.h
@@ -711,8 +711,8 @@ struct USER
     struct LegacyState
     {
         FState* Rot;
-        FState* StateEnd;
-        FState* StateFallOverride; // a bit kludgy - override std fall state
+        FState* StateEnd;   // make this a static class property, it's never use for anything else but statically set up data on actor spawn.
+        FState* StateFallOverride; // a bit kludgy - override std fall state (this one must also become a static class property.)
         ACTOR_ACTION_SET* ActorActionSet;
         int16_t RotNum;
         ATTRIBUTE* Attrib;
@@ -972,6 +972,7 @@ enum
     SPR2_VIS_SHADING        = BIT(23),   // Sprite shading to go along with vis adjustments
     SPR2_DONT_TARGET_OWNER  = BIT(24),
     SPR2_FLAMEDIE           = BIT(25),  // was previously 'flame == -2'
+    SPR2_FALLOVERRIDE       = BIT(26),  // use the FallOverride state
 };
 
 
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/ripper.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/ripper.cpp
index 9b70aab9d7..8d2ea82583 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/ripper.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/ripper.cpp
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ int SetupRipper(DSWActor* actor)
     actor->user.__legacyState.Attrib = &RipperAttrib;
     DoActorSetSpeed(actor, FAST_SPEED);
     actor->user.__legacyState.StateEnd = s_RipperDie;
+    actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride = s_RipperHangFall;
     actor->spr.scale = DVector2(1, 1);
 
     if (actor->spr.pal == PALETTE_BROWN_RIPPER)
@@ -575,7 +576,7 @@ int InitRipperHang(DSWActor* actor)
     }
 
     NewStateGroup(actor, s_RipperHangJump);
-    actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride = s_RipperHangFall;
+    actor->user.Flags2 |= SPR2_FALLOVERRIDE;
     DoActorSetSpeed(actor, FAST_SPEED);
 
     PickJumpMaxSpeed(actor, -800);
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/ripper2.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/ripper2.cpp
index f18e451f9b..388cab9914 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/ripper2.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/ripper2.cpp
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ int SetupRipper2(DSWActor* actor)
     actor->user.__legacyState.Attrib = &Ripper2Attrib;
     DoActorSetSpeed(actor, NORM_SPEED);
     actor->user.__legacyState.StateEnd = s_Ripper2Die;
+    actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride = s_Ripper2HangFall;
     actor->clipdist = 32;  // This actor is bigger, needs bigger box.
     actor->spr.scale = DVector2(0.859375, 0.859375);
 
@@ -529,7 +530,7 @@ int InitRipper2Hang(DSWActor* actor)
     }
 
     NewStateGroup(actor, s_Ripper2HangJump);
-    actor->user.__legacyState.StateFallOverride = s_Ripper2HangFall;
+    actor->user.Flags2 |= SPR2_FALLOVERRIDE;
     DoActorSetSpeed(actor, FAST_SPEED);
 
     PickJumpMaxSpeed(actor, -(RandomRange(400)+100));
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/save.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/save.cpp
index 741aa11515..023f200d9c 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/save.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/save.cpp
@@ -600,8 +600,6 @@ FSerializer& Serialize(FSerializer& arc, const char* keyname, USER& w, USER* def
 		/*
 			("State", w.State, def->State)
 			("Rot", w.__legacyState.Rot, def->__legacyState.Rot)
-			("StateEnd", w.__legacyState.StateEnd, def->__legacyState.StateEnd)
-			("StateFallOverride", w.__legacyState.StateFallOverride, def->__legacyState.StateFallOverride)
 			*/
 		arc
 			("WallP", w.WallP, def->WallP)