diff --git a/Items/knife.tscn b/Items/knife.tscn
index feff282..294ba21 100644
--- a/Items/knife.tscn
+++ b/Items/knife.tscn
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ properties/1/replication_mode = 1
 properties/2/path = NodePath("NetPickable:net_held_by")
 properties/2/spawn = true
 properties/2/replication_mode = 1
+properties/3/path = NodePath(".:enabled")
+properties/3/spawn = false
+properties/3/replication_mode = 1
 
 [sub_resource type="Gradient" id="Gradient_s6exe"]
 interpolation_mode = 2
diff --git a/Net/net_pickable.gd b/Net/net_pickable.gd
index fc7db55..cfeebeb 100644
--- a/Net/net_pickable.gd
+++ b/Net/net_pickable.gd
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ var _original_freeze_mode: RigidBody3D.FreezeMode
 # branch of apply_held_state() clears while someone else is holding the item.
 var _original_enabled: bool
 
+# Intent set by external game logic (e.g. a station enabling/disabling a tool),
+# independent of hold state. apply_held_state() is the sole writer of the
+# pickable's actual `enabled` property, so this is how other systems express
+# "should be enabled" without fighting that reconciliation every tick.
+var _tool_enabled: bool = true
+
 # Whether the "our own hand still holds this" guard has already been logged for
 # the current grab. apply_held_state() runs every network tick, so without this
 # the guard message repeats for as long as you hold the item.
@@ -47,6 +53,17 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	apply_held_state.call_deferred()
 
 
+## Called by external game logic (e.g. Counter._enable_tool/_disable_tool) to
+## express whether this item should be usable right now, independent of hold
+## state. Reapplies immediately so the change takes effect without waiting for
+## the next net_held_by tick.
+func set_tool_enabled(value: bool) -> void:
+	if _tool_enabled == value:
+		return
+	_tool_enabled = value
+	apply_held_state()
+
+
 func _set_net_held_by(value: int) -> void:
 	var old := net_held_by
 	net_held_by = value
@@ -95,10 +112,11 @@ func apply_held_state() -> void:
 		# e.g. a plate still got marked dirty) while pick_up() bailed out on
 		# the disabled item, leaving the zone holding an item with no grab
 		# driver that then fell out of the station.
-		if _pickable.enabled != _original_enabled:
+		var want_enabled_authority := _original_enabled and _tool_enabled
+		if _pickable.enabled != want_enabled_authority:
 			if NetworkManager.is_online():
-				SweetLogger.debug("{0}: reclaiming ownership, restoring enabled {1}->{2}", [_pickable.name, _pickable.enabled, _original_enabled])
-			_pickable.enabled = _original_enabled
+				SweetLogger.debug("{0}: reclaiming ownership, restoring enabled {1}->{2}", [_pickable.name, _pickable.enabled, want_enabled_authority])
+			_pickable.enabled = want_enabled_authority
 		return
 	# A net_held_by/position sync update can race ahead of the
 	# authority-handoff RPC that's about to confirm a grab we just made
@@ -125,7 +143,7 @@ func apply_held_state() -> void:
 	# physics-property writes per item per tick. The comparison also means we
 	# still re-apply if something else perturbs the state (e.g. let_go()
 	# restoring the collision mask after a force-drop).
-	var want_enabled := (net_held_by == 0)
+	var want_enabled := (net_held_by == 0) and _tool_enabled
 	if _pickable.freeze \
 			and _pickable.freeze_mode == RigidBody3D.FREEZE_MODE_KINEMATIC \
 			and _pickable.collision_mask == 0 \
diff --git a/Stations/counter.gd b/Stations/counter.gd
index 354e5ef..9342d27 100644
--- a/Stations/counter.gd
+++ b/Stations/counter.gd
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		SweetLogger.warning("{0} missing chop_audio reference", [name])
 	if not knife:
 		SweetLogger.warning("{0} missing knife reference", [name])
-	_hide_all_tools()
+	_disable_all_tools()
 
 
 func _start_chopping(id: String, work: float) -> void:
@@ -33,12 +33,20 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> void:
 	super.process(delta)
 
 
-
-func _hide_all_tools():
-	knife.visible = false
-	knife.enabled = false
+func _enable_tool(_item: XRToolsPickable):
+	SweetLogger.debug("Enable tool {0} on {1}", [_item.name, name])
+	_item.visible = true
+	_item.get_node("NetPickable").set_tool_enabled(true)
 
 
+func _disable_tool(_item: XRToolsPickable):
+	SweetLogger.debug("Disable tool {0} on {1}", [_item.name, name])
+	_item.visible = false
+	_item.get_node("NetPickable").set_tool_enabled(false)
+
+func _disable_all_tools():
+	SweetLogger.debug("Disable all tools on {0}", [name])
+	_disable_tool(knife)
 
 
 func _on_gesture_area_body_entered(body: Node3D) -> void:
@@ -84,20 +92,19 @@ func on_food_item_picked_up(food_item: FoodItem) -> void:
 		SweetLogger.debug("Held a FoodItem that is not choppable, id: {0} result: {1}", [food_item.id, result])
 		return
 
-	knife.visible = true
-	knife.enabled = true
+	_enable_tool(knife)
 	_start_chopping(result, RecipeManager.get_chopping_work(food_item.id))
 
 
 # Called from Station base class
 func on_object_dropped(_item: Node3D) -> void:
 	SweetLogger.debug("->[]")
-	_hide_all_tools()
+	_disable_all_tools()
 	reset()
 
 
 # Called from Station base class
 func on_work_complete():
 	SweetLogger.debug("->[]")
-	_hide_all_tools()
+	_disable_all_tools()
 	convert_item()