diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_atom/signals_atom_movement.dm b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_atom/signals_atom_movement.dm
index 0c9523b9c20..25eb8b15f38 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_atom/signals_atom_movement.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_atom/signals_atom_movement.dm
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@
 #define COMSIG_ATOM_DIR_CHANGE "atom_dir_change"
 ///from base of atom/setDir(): (old_dir, new_dir). Called after the direction changes.
 #define COMSIG_ATOM_POST_DIR_CHANGE "atom_dir_change"
+///from base of atom/movable/keybind_face_direction(): (dir). Called before turning with the movement lock key.
+#define COMSIG_MOVABLE_KEYBIND_FACE_DIR "keybind_face_dir"
+	///ignores the movement lock key, used for turning while strafing in a mech
+	#define COMSIG_IGNORE_MOVEMENT_LOCK (1<<0)
+
 /// from /datum/component/singularity/proc/can_move(), as well as /obj/energy_ball/proc/can_move()
 /// if a callback returns `SINGULARITY_TRY_MOVE_BLOCK`, then the singularity will not move to that turf
 #define COMSIG_ATOM_SINGULARITY_TRY_MOVE "atom_singularity_try_move"
diff --git a/code/modules/keybindings/bindings_atom.dm b/code/modules/keybindings/bindings_atom.dm
index e728ae4d8e2..6dadcd5768e 100644
--- a/code/modules/keybindings/bindings_atom.dm
+++ b/code/modules/keybindings/bindings_atom.dm
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
 	if(user && movement_dir) //If we're not moving, don't compensate, as byond will auto-fill dir otherwise
 		movement_dir = turn(movement_dir, -dir2angle(user.dir)) //By doing this we ensure that our input direction is offset by the client (camera) direction
 
-	if(user?.movement_locked)
+	//turn without moving while using the movement lock key, unless something wants to ignore it and move anyway
+	if(user?.movement_locked && !(SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_MOVABLE_KEYBIND_FACE_DIR, movement_dir) & COMSIG_IGNORE_MOVEMENT_LOCK))
 		keybind_face_direction(movement_dir)
 	else
 		user?.Move(get_step(src, movement_dir), movement_dir)
diff --git a/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_mob_interaction.dm b/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_mob_interaction.dm
index 07b13a27ec0..0789216400c 100644
--- a/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_mob_interaction.dm
+++ b/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_mob_interaction.dm
@@ -158,12 +158,16 @@
 /obj/vehicle/sealed/mecha/add_occupant(mob/M, control_flags)
 	RegisterSignal(M, COMSIG_MOB_CLICKON, PROC_REF(on_mouseclick), TRUE)
 	RegisterSignal(M, COMSIG_MOB_SAY, PROC_REF(display_speech_bubble), TRUE)
+	RegisterSignal(M, COMSIG_MOVABLE_KEYBIND_FACE_DIR, PROC_REF(on_turn), TRUE)
 	. = ..()
 	update_appearance()
 
 /obj/vehicle/sealed/mecha/remove_occupant(mob/M)
-	UnregisterSignal(M, COMSIG_MOB_CLICKON)
-	UnregisterSignal(M, COMSIG_MOB_SAY)
+	UnregisterSignal(M, list(
+		COMSIG_MOB_CLICKON,
+		COMSIG_MOB_SAY,
+		COMSIG_MOVABLE_KEYBIND_FACE_DIR,
+	))
 	M.clear_alert(ALERT_CHARGE)
 	M.clear_alert(ALERT_MECH_DAMAGE)
 	if(M.client)
diff --git a/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_movement.dm b/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_movement.dm
index e8c43ae48f9..766826e8f5a 100644
--- a/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_movement.dm
+++ b/code/modules/vehicles/mecha/mecha_movement.dm
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@
 		return TRUE
 	return FALSE
 
+///Called when the driver turns with the movement lock key
+/obj/vehicle/sealed/mecha/proc/on_turn(mob/living/driver, direction)
+	SIGNAL_HANDLER
+	return COMSIG_IGNORE_MOVEMENT_LOCK
+
 /obj/vehicle/sealed/mecha/relaymove(mob/living/user, direction)
 	. = TRUE
 	if(!canmove || !(user in return_drivers()))
@@ -121,11 +126,11 @@
 				break
 
 	//if we're not facing the way we're going rotate us
-	if(dir != direction && !strafe || forcerotate || keyheld)
+	if(dir != direction && (!strafe || forcerotate || keyheld))
 		if(dir != direction && !(mecha_flags & QUIET_TURNS) && !step_silent)
 			playsound(src,turnsound,40,TRUE)
 		setDir(direction)
-		if(!pivot_step) //If we pivot step, we don't return here so we don't just come to a stop
+		if(keyheld || !pivot_step) //If we pivot step, we don't return here so we don't just come to a stop
 			return TRUE
 
 	set_glide_size(DELAY_TO_GLIDE_SIZE(movedelay))