diff --git a/src/d_player.h b/src/d_player.h
index 8eba378ff..b9ca4d532 100644
--- a/src/d_player.h
+++ b/src/d_player.h
@@ -716,6 +716,7 @@ struct player_t
 	UINT8 flamelength;	// Flame Shield dash meter, number of segments
 
 	UINT16 ballhogcharge;	// Ballhog charge up -- the higher this value, the more projectiles
+	boolean ballhogtap;		// Ballhog released during charge: used to allow semirapid tapfire
 
 	UINT16 hyudorotimer;	// Duration of the Hyudoro offroad effect itself
 	SINT8 stealingtimer;	// if >0 you are stealing, if <0 you are being stolen from
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index b3b0956a4..99483e230 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -11507,8 +11507,19 @@ void K_MoveKartPlayer(player_t *player, boolean onground)
 							{
 								INT32 ballhogmax = (player->itemamount) * BALLHOGINCREMENT;
 
-								if ((cmd->buttons & BT_ATTACK) && (player->pflags & PF_HOLDREADY)
-									&& (player->ballhogcharge < ballhogmax))
+								// This construct looks a little goofy, but we're basically just
+								// trying to prevent rapid taps from restarting a charge, while
+								// still allowing quick tapfire.
+								// (The player still has to pace their shots like this, it's not
+								// semi-auto, but that's probably kind of okay.)
+								if (player->ballhogcharge && !(cmd->buttons & BT_ATTACK))
+									player->ballhogtap = true;
+
+								if (player->ballhogcharge == 0)
+									player->ballhogtap = false;
+
+								boolean realcharge = (cmd->buttons & BT_ATTACK) && (player->pflags & PF_HOLDREADY) && (player->ballhogcharge < ballhogmax);
+								if ((realcharge && !player->ballhogtap) || (player->ballhogtap && player->ballhogcharge < BALLHOGINCREMENT))
 								{
 									player->ballhogcharge++;
 									if (player->ballhogcharge % BALLHOGINCREMENT == 0)
diff --git a/src/lua_playerlib.c b/src/lua_playerlib.c
index 7cd2ef130..5cba9fa62 100644
--- a/src/lua_playerlib.c
+++ b/src/lua_playerlib.c
@@ -383,6 +383,8 @@ static int player_get(lua_State *L)
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->flamelength);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"ballhogcharge"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->ballhogcharge);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"ballhogtap"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->ballhogtap);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"hyudorotimer"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->hyudorotimer);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"stealingtimer"))
@@ -867,6 +869,8 @@ static int player_set(lua_State *L)
 		plr->flamelength = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"ballhogcharge"))
 		plr->ballhogcharge = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"ballhogtap"))
+		plr->ballhogtap = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"hyudorotimer"))
 		plr->hyudorotimer = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"stealingtimer"))
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index 1325c7440..0b0aeab9b 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].flamelength);
 
 		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].ballhogcharge);
+		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].ballhogtap);
 
 		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].hyudorotimer);
 		WRITESINT8(save->p, players[i].stealingtimer);
@@ -994,6 +995,7 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		players[i].flamelength = READUINT8(save->p);
 
 		players[i].ballhogcharge = READUINT16(save->p);
+		players[i].ballhogtap = READUINT8(save->p);
 
 		players[i].hyudorotimer = READUINT16(save->p);
 		players[i].stealingtimer = READSINT8(save->p);