diff --git a/code/game/objects/effects/item_pickup_ghost.dm b/code/game/objects/effects/item_pickup_ghost.dm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0944e2753e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/game/objects/effects/item_pickup_ghost.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/obj/effect/temporary_effect/item_pickup_ghost
+	anchored = 1
+	plane = MOB_PLANE
+	layer = ABOVE_MOB_LAYER
+	mouse_opacity = 0//just in case something dumb happens
+	time_to_die = 0.5 SECONDS
+	var/lifetime = 0.25 SECONDS //so it doesn't die before animation ends
+
+/obj/effect/temporary_effect/item_pickup_ghost/proc/assumeform(var/obj/item/picked_up)
+	icon = picked_up.icon
+	icon_state = picked_up.icon_state
+	pixel_x = picked_up.pixel_x
+	pixel_y = picked_up.pixel_y
+	color = picked_up.color
+
+/obj/effect/temporary_effect/item_pickup_ghost/proc/animate_towards(var/atom/target)
+	var/new_pixel_x = pixel_x + (target.x - src.x) * 32
+	var/new_pixel_y = pixel_y + (target.y - src.y) * 32
+	animate(src, pixel_x = new_pixel_x, pixel_y = new_pixel_y, transform = matrix()*0, time = lifetime)
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items.dm b/code/game/objects/items.dm
index a77080bd8d..1d44bd1ed7 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items.dm
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_BOILERPLATE(all_items, /obj/item)
 		if(!temp)
 			user << "<span class='notice'>You try to use your hand, but realize it is no longer attached!</span>"
 			return
+
+	var/old_loc = src.loc
 	src.pickup(user)
 	if (istype(src.loc, /obj/item/weapon/storage))
 		var/obj/item/weapon/storage/S = src.loc
@@ -225,7 +227,11 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_BOILERPLATE(all_items, /obj/item)
 	else
 		if(isliving(src.loc))
 			return
-	user.put_in_active_hand(src)
+	if(user.put_in_active_hand(src))
+		if(isturf(old_loc))
+			var/obj/effect/temporary_effect/item_pickup_ghost/ghost = new(old_loc)
+			ghost.assumeform(src)
+			ghost.animate_towards(user)
 	return
 
 /obj/item/attack_ai(mob/user as mob)
diff --git a/polaris.dme b/polaris.dme
index 8f03b9b57d..2004271237 100644
--- a/polaris.dme
+++ b/polaris.dme
@@ -802,6 +802,7 @@
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\explosion_particles.dm"
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\gibs.dm"
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\glowshroom.dm"
+#include "code\game\objects\effects\item_pickup_ghost.dm"
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\landmarks.dm"
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\manifest.dm"
 #include "code\game\objects\effects\mines.dm"