diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletVehicle.cxx b/panda/src/bullet/bulletVehicle.cxx
index f4321cd911..ba7ee35d6d 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletVehicle.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletVehicle.cxx
@@ -235,10 +235,13 @@ void BulletVehicle::
 do_sync_b2p() {
 
   for (int i=0; i < _vehicle->getNumWheels(); i++) {
-    // synchronize the wheels with the (interpolated) chassis worldtransform
-    _vehicle->updateWheelTransform(i, true);
+    btWheelInfo &info = _vehicle->getWheelInfo(i);
 
-    btWheelInfo info = _vehicle->getWheelInfo(i);
+    // synchronize the wheels with the (interpolated) chassis worldtransform.
+    // It resets the m_isInContact flag, so restore that afterwards.
+    bool in_contact = info.m_raycastInfo.m_isInContact;
+    _vehicle->updateWheelTransform(i, true);
+    info.m_raycastInfo.m_isInContact = in_contact;
 
     PandaNode *node = (PandaNode *)info.m_clientInfo;
     if (node) {