diff --git a/src/game/behaviors/eyerok.inc.c b/src/game/behaviors/eyerok.inc.c
index a781638de..59f5868aa 100644
--- a/src/game/behaviors/eyerok.inc.c
+++ b/src/game/behaviors/eyerok.inc.c
@@ -13,13 +13,38 @@ struct ObjectHitbox sEyerokHitbox = {
 s8 D_80331BA4[] = { 0, 1, 3, 2, 1, 0 };
 static u8 eyerokBossImmediateUpdate = FALSE;
 
-static s32 eyerok_check_mario_relative_z(s32 arg0) {
-    struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
-    if (player && player->oPosZ - o->oHomeZ < arg0) {
-        return TRUE;
-    } else {
-        return FALSE;
+static s32 eyerok_check_mario_relative_z(s32 zDist) {
+    for (s32 i = 0; i < MAX_PLAYERS; i++) {
+        struct MarioState* m = &gMarioStates[i];
+        if (m->marioObj == NULL) { continue; }
+        if (is_player_active(m) && m->marioObj->oPosZ - o->oHomeZ >= zDist) {
+            return FALSE;
+        }
     }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+static struct Object* eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(s32 zDist) {
+    if (!o) { return NULL; }
+    struct Object* nearest = NULL;
+    f32 nearestDist = 0;
+    for (s32 i = 0; i < MAX_PLAYERS; i++) {
+        struct MarioState *m = &gMarioStates[i];
+        if (!m->marioObj) { continue; }
+        if (m->marioObj == o) { continue; }
+        if (!m->visibleToEnemies) { continue; }
+        if (!is_player_active(m)) { continue; }
+        f32 dist = dist_between_objects(o, m->marioObj);
+        if (m->marioObj->oPosZ - o->oHomeZ < zDist) {
+            dist += 10000; // always prefer players that are not past z position
+        }
+        if (nearest == NULL || dist < nearestDist) {
+            nearest = m->marioObj;
+            nearestDist = dist;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return nearest;
 }
 
 static struct Object* eyerok_spawn_hand(s16 side, s32 model, const BehaviorScript *behavior) {
@@ -172,7 +197,7 @@ static void eyerok_boss_act_fight(void) {
                     o->oEyerokBossUnk108 = 1.0f;
                 }
 
-                struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
+                struct Object* player = eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(400);
                 if (player) {
                     o->oEyerokBossUnk10C = player->oPosZ;
                 }
@@ -311,7 +336,7 @@ static void eyerok_hand_act_sleep(void) {
 
 static void eyerok_hand_act_idle(void) {
     if (!o->parentObj) { return; }
-    struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
+    struct Object* player = eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(400);
     s32 angleToPlayer = player ? obj_angle_to_object(o, player) : 0;
     cur_obj_init_animation_with_sound(2);
 
@@ -502,7 +527,7 @@ static void eyerok_hand_act_retreat(void) {
 
 static void eyerok_hand_act_target_mario(void) {
     if (!o->parentObj) { return; }
-    struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
+    struct Object* player = eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(400);
     s32 angleToPlayer = player ? obj_angle_to_object(o, player) : 0;
     if (eyerok_check_mario_relative_z(400) != 0 || (player && o->oPosZ - player->oPosZ > 0.0f)
         || o->oPosZ - o->parentObj->oPosZ > 1700.0f || absf(o->oPosX - o->parentObj->oPosX) > 900.0f
@@ -519,7 +544,7 @@ static void eyerok_hand_act_target_mario(void) {
 }
 
 static void eyerok_hand_act_smash(void) {
-    struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
+    struct Object* player = eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(400);
     s32 distanceToPlayer = player ? dist_between_objects(o, player) : 10000;
     s32 angleToPlayer = player ? obj_angle_to_object(o, player) : 0;
     s16 sp1E;
@@ -549,7 +574,7 @@ static void eyerok_hand_act_smash(void) {
 }
 
 static void eyerok_hand_act_fist_push(void) {
-    struct Object* player = nearest_player_to_object(o);
+    struct Object* player = eyerok_nearest_targetable_player_to_object(400);
     if (o->oTimer > 5 && ((player && o->oPosZ - player->oPosZ > 0.0f) || (o->oMoveFlags & OBJ_MOVE_HIT_EDGE))) {
         o->oAction = EYEROK_HAND_ACT_FIST_SWEEP;
         o->oForwardVel = 0.0f;