diff --git a/src/game/scenes/mechlab.c b/src/game/scenes/mechlab.c
index d3d21cddb..24c45b701 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/mechlab.c
+++ b/src/game/scenes/mechlab.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ typedef struct {
     dashboard_widgets dw;
     newplayer_widgets nw;
     trnselect_widgets tw;
+    bool hide_mech;
     bool selling;
     component *hint;
 } mechlab_local;
@@ -196,12 +197,17 @@ void mechlab_update(scene *scene) {
     lab_dash_main_update(scene, &local->dw);
 }
 
+void mechlab_hide_mech(scene *scene) {
+    mechlab_local *local = scene_get_userdata(scene);
+    local->hide_mech = true;
+}
+
 void mechlab_tick(scene *scene, int paused) {
     mechlab_local *local = scene_get_userdata(scene);
 
     guiframe_tick(local->frame);
     guiframe_tick(local->dashboard);
-    if(local->mech != NULL) {
+    if(!local->hide_mech && local->mech != NULL) {
         object_dynamic_tick(local->mech);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/game/scenes/mechlab.h b/src/game/scenes/mechlab.h
index 624245aec..048dc358d 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/mechlab.h
+++ b/src/game/scenes/mechlab.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ typedef enum
 
 int mechlab_create(scene *scene);
 void mechlab_update(scene *scene);
+void mechlab_hide_mech(scene *scene);
 
 void mechlab_enter_trnselect_menu(scene *s);
 component *mechlab_chrload_menu_create(scene *scene);
diff --git a/src/game/scenes/mechlab/lab_dash_main.c b/src/game/scenes/mechlab/lab_dash_main.c
index 1447a887a..249bbd782 100644
--- a/src/game/scenes/mechlab/lab_dash_main.c
+++ b/src/game/scenes/mechlab/lab_dash_main.c
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ void lab_dash_sim_init(component *menu, component *submenu) {
     dashboard_widgets *dw = trnmenu_get_userdata(submenu);
     game_player *p1 = game_state_get_player(dw->scene->gs, 0);
     dw->sim_rank = p1->pilot->rank;
+    mechlab_hide_mech(dw->scene);
 }
 
 void lab_dash_sim_done(component *menu, component *submenu) {