diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h b/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
index e52b05e18..81f4595a8 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/include/build.h
@@ -618,7 +618,10 @@ int32_t   clipinsideboxline(int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t x1, int32_t y1, int32_
 int32_t   pushmove(vec3_t *vect, int16_t *sectnum, int32_t walldist, int32_t ceildist, int32_t flordist, uint32_t cliptype) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(1,2)));
 void   getzrange(const vec3_t *vect, int16_t sectnum, int32_t *ceilz, int32_t *ceilhit, int32_t *florz, int32_t *florhit, int32_t walldist, uint32_t cliptype) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(1,3,4,5,6)));
 int32_t   hitscan(const vec3_t *sv, int16_t sectnum, int32_t vx, int32_t vy, int32_t vz, hitdata_t *hitinfo, uint32_t cliptype) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(1,6)));
-void   neartag(int32_t xs, int32_t ys, int32_t zs, int16_t sectnum, int16_t ange, int16_t *neartagsector, int16_t *neartagwall, int16_t *neartagsprite, int32_t *neartaghitdist, int32_t neartagrange, uint8_t tagsearch) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(6,7,8)));
+void   neartag(int32_t xs, int32_t ys, int32_t zs, int16_t sectnum, int16_t ange,
+               int16_t *neartagsector, int16_t *neartagwall, int16_t *neartagsprite,
+               int32_t *neartaghitdist, int32_t neartagrange, uint8_t tagsearch,
+               int32_t (*blacklist_sprite_func)(int32_t)) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(6,7,8)));
 int32_t   cansee(int32_t x1, int32_t y1, int32_t z1, int16_t sect1, int32_t x2, int32_t y2, int32_t z2, int16_t sect2);
 void   updatesector(int32_t x, int32_t y, int16_t *sectnum) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(3)));
 void updatesector_onlynextwalls(int32_t x, int32_t y, int16_t *sectnum) ATTRIBUTE((nonnull(3)));
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
index 3b5df0210..e19f313f4 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/engine.c
@@ -11456,7 +11456,8 @@ restart_grand:
 // neartag
 //
 void neartag(int32_t xs, int32_t ys, int32_t zs, int16_t sectnum, int16_t ange, int16_t *neartagsector, int16_t *neartagwall,
-                int16_t *neartagsprite, int32_t *neartaghitdist, int32_t neartagrange, uint8_t tagsearch)
+             int16_t *neartagsprite, int32_t *neartaghitdist, int32_t neartagrange, uint8_t tagsearch,
+             int32_t (*blacklist_sprite_func)(int32_t))
 {
     walltype *wal, *wal2;
     spritetype *spr;
@@ -11526,6 +11527,9 @@ void neartag(int32_t xs, int32_t ys, int32_t zs, int16_t sectnum, int16_t ange,
 
         for (z=headspritesect[dasector]; z>=0; z=nextspritesect[z])
         {
+            if (blacklist_sprite_func && blacklist_sprite_func(z))
+                continue;
+
             spr = &sprite[z];
 
             good = 0;
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
index 7d1623171..4b5e69f14 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
@@ -2735,7 +2735,8 @@ nullquote:
                     OSD_Printf(CON_ERROR "Invalid sector %d\n",g_errorLineNum,keyw[g_tw],sectnum);
                     continue;
                 }
-                neartag(x, y, z, sectnum, ang, &neartagsector, &neartagwall, &neartagsprite, &neartaghitdist, neartagrange, tagsearch);
+                neartag(x, y, z, sectnum, ang, &neartagsector, &neartagwall, &neartagsprite,
+                        &neartaghitdist, neartagrange, tagsearch, NULL);
 
                 Gv_SetVarX(neartagsectorvar, neartagsector);
                 Gv_SetVarX(neartagwallvar, neartagwall);
@@ -3264,7 +3265,8 @@ nullquote:
             if (sector[vm.g_sp->sectnum].lotag == 0)
             {
                 neartag(vm.g_sp->x,vm.g_sp->y,vm.g_sp->z-(32<<8),vm.g_sp->sectnum,vm.g_sp->ang,
-                        &neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,768L,5);
+                        &neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 768, 4+1, NULL);
+
                 if (neartagsector >= 0 && isanearoperator(sector[neartagsector].lotag))
                     if ((sector[neartagsector].lotag&0xff) == 23 || sector[neartagsector].floorz == sector[neartagsector].ceilingz)
                         if ((sector[neartagsector].lotag&16384) == 0)
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/m32exec.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/m32exec.c
index a7c356332..37de2e5bb 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/m32exec.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/m32exec.c
@@ -1918,7 +1918,8 @@ badindex:
                 int32_t neartaghitdist;
 
                 X_ERROR_INVALIDSECT(sectnum);
-                neartag(x, y, z, sectnum, ang, &neartagsector, &neartagwall, &neartagsprite, &neartaghitdist, neartagrange, tagsearch);
+                neartag(x, y, z, sectnum, ang, &neartagsector, &neartagwall, &neartagsprite,
+                        &neartaghitdist, neartagrange, tagsearch, NULL);
 
                 Gv_SetVarX(neartagsectorvar, neartagsector);
                 Gv_SetVarX(neartagwallvar, neartagwall);
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
index dfc7f851a..3f6488c37 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
@@ -3052,6 +3052,11 @@ static int32_t P_FindWall(DukePlayer_t *p,int16_t *hitw)
     return (FindDistance2D(hitinfo.pos.x-p->pos.x,hitinfo.pos.y-p->pos.y));
 }
 
+// returns 1 if sprite i should not be considered by neartag
+static int32_t our_neartag_blacklist(int32_t i)
+{
+    return sprite[i].picnum >= SECTOREFFECTOR__STATIC && sprite[i].picnum <= GPSPEED__STATIC;
+}
 
 void P_CheckSectors(int32_t snum)
 {
@@ -3163,17 +3168,22 @@ void P_CheckSectors(int32_t snum)
             }
 
         if (p->newowner >= 0)
-            neartag(p->opos.x,p->opos.y,p->opos.z,sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,1280L,1);
+            neartag(p->opos.x,p->opos.y,p->opos.z,sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,
+                    &neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 1280, 1, our_neartag_blacklist);
         else
         {
-            neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z,sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,1280L,1);
+            neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z,sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,
+                    &neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 1280, 1, our_neartag_blacklist);
             if (neartagsprite == -1 && neartagwall == -1 && neartagsector == -1)
-                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(8<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,1280L,1);
+                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(8<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,
+                        &neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 1280, 1, our_neartag_blacklist);
             if (neartagsprite == -1 && neartagwall == -1 && neartagsector == -1)
-                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(16<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,1280L,1);
+                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(16<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,
+                        &neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 1280, 1, our_neartag_blacklist);
             if (neartagsprite == -1 && neartagwall == -1 && neartagsector == -1)
             {
-                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(16<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,&neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist,1280L,3);
+                neartag(p->pos.x,p->pos.y,p->pos.z+(16<<8),sprite[p->i].sectnum,p->oang,&neartagsector,
+                        &neartagwall,&neartagsprite,&neartaghitdist, 1280, 3, our_neartag_blacklist);
                 if (neartagsprite >= 0)
                 {
                     switch (DYNAMICTILEMAP(sprite[neartagsprite].picnum))