diff --git a/gui/dnd_loot.cpp b/gui/dnd_loot.cpp
index fda4cee..2b48418 100644
--- a/gui/dnd_loot.cpp
+++ b/gui/dnd_loot.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ namespace gui {
         if(UISystem::loot_drop($loot_ui.$gui,
               $status_ui.$gui, $grab_source, data))
         {
+          $grab_source = std::nullopt;
+          $grab_sprite = nullptr;
           state(DNDState::END);
         }
         break;
@@ -134,11 +136,19 @@ namespace gui {
           // NOTE: if > 1 items, go to LOOT_OPEN instead
           auto gui_id = $loot_ui.$gui.entity("item_0");
           $grab_source = UISystem::loot_grab($loot_ui.$gui, gui_id);
-          if($grab_source) state(DNDState::ITEM_PICKUP);
+
+          if($grab_source) {
+            auto& source = $loot_ui.$gui.get<guecs::GrabSource>(*$grab_source);
+            $grab_sprite = source.sprite;
+            // call this once to properly position the sprite
+            handle_mouse(Event::MOUSE_MOVE, $loot_ui.$gui);
+            state(DNDState::ITEM_PICKUP);
+          }
         } break;
       case LOOT_OPEN:
         $loot_ui.active = true;
         $grab_source = std::nullopt;
+        $grab_sprite = nullptr;
         state(DNDState::LOOTING);
         break;
       default:
@@ -183,4 +193,9 @@ namespace gui {
     }
   }
 
+  void DNDLoot::render() {
+    if($grab_source && $grab_sprite) {
+      $window.draw(*$grab_sprite);
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/gui/dnd_loot.hpp b/gui/dnd_loot.hpp
index c2fa590..3b9a4d5 100644
--- a/gui/dnd_loot.hpp
+++ b/gui/dnd_loot.hpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ namespace gui {
   class DNDLoot : public DeadSimpleFSM<DNDState, Event> {
     public:
       std::optional<guecs::Entity> $grab_source = std::nullopt;
+      std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> $grab_sprite = nullptr;
       StatusUI& $status_ui;
       LootUI& $loot_ui;
       sf::RenderWindow& $window;
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ namespace gui {
       void ITEM_PICKUP(Event ev, std::any data);
       void handle_mouse(Event ev, guecs::UI& gui);
       void mouse_action(bool hover);
+      void render();
       sf::Vector2f mouse_position();
   };
 }
diff --git a/gui/fsm.cpp b/gui/fsm.cpp
index e4be389..c9b251a 100644
--- a/gui/fsm.cpp
+++ b/gui/fsm.cpp
@@ -366,6 +366,7 @@ namespace gui {
       $combat_ui.render($window);
 
       if($loot_ui.active) $loot_ui.render($window);
+      $dnd_loot.render();
 
       if($map_open) {
         $map_ui.render($window, $main_ui.$compass_dir);