diff --git a/src/actor.rs b/src/actor.rs
index 2d275fd..4292bb0 100644
--- a/src/actor.rs
+++ b/src/actor.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use bevy_xpbd_3d::prelude::*;
 use bevy::scene::SceneInstance;
 use bevy::math::DVec3;
 use crate::{actor, audio, camera, chat, commands, effects, hud, nature, var, world};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 pub const ENGINE_SPEED_FACTOR: f32 = 30.0;
 const MAX_TRANSMISSION_DISTANCE: f32 = 100.0;
@@ -27,9 +28,11 @@ impl Plugin for ActorPlugin {
         ));
         app.add_systems(PostUpdate, (
             handle_vehicle_enter_exit,
+            update_id2pos,
         ));
         app.add_event::<VehicleEnterExitEvent>();
         app.add_event::<PlayerDiesEvent>();
+        app.insert_resource(Id2Pos(HashMap::new()));
     }
 }
 
@@ -115,6 +118,8 @@ impl Default for ExperiencesGForce { fn default() -> Self { Self {
 #[derive(Component)] pub struct ActorVehicleBeingEntered;
 #[derive(Component)] pub struct WantsMaxRotation(pub f64);
 #[derive(Component)] pub struct WantsMaxVelocity(pub f64);
+#[derive(Component)] pub struct Identifier(pub String);
+#[derive(Resource)] pub struct Id2Pos(pub HashMap<String, DVec3>);
 
 #[derive(Component)]
 pub struct LifeForm {
@@ -521,3 +526,13 @@ fn handle_gforce(
         }
     }
 }
+
+fn update_id2pos(
+    mut id2pos: ResMut<Id2Pos>,
+    q_id: Query<(&Position, &Identifier)>,
+) {
+    id2pos.0.clear();
+    for (pos, id) in &q_id {
+        id2pos.0.insert(id.0.clone(), pos.0);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/commands.rs b/src/commands.rs
index 5ffcb8e..63f8c91 100644
--- a/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src/commands.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use crate::{actor, chat, hud, nature, shading, world};
 use regex::Regex;
 use std::f32::consts::PI;
 use std::f64::consts::PI as PI64;
-use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 pub struct CommandsPlugin;
 impl Plugin for CommandsPlugin {
@@ -39,6 +38,7 @@ struct ParserState {
     // Actor fields
     id: String,
     pos: DVec3,
+    relative_to: Option<String>,
     model: Option<String>,
     model_scale: f32,
     rotation: Quat,
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ impl Default for ParserState {
 
             id: "".to_string(),
             pos: DVec3::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0),
+            relative_to: None,
             model: None,
             model_scale: 1.0,
             rotation: Quat::IDENTITY,
@@ -135,7 +136,6 @@ pub fn load_defs(
     let mut state = ParserState::default();
     let mut command;
     let mut parameters;
-    let mut id2pos: HashMap<String, DVec3> = HashMap::new();
 
     let mut line_nr = -1;
     while let Some(line) = lines.next() {
@@ -207,18 +207,7 @@ pub fn load_defs(
                 }
             }
             ["relativeto", id] => {
-                // NOTE: call this command before "id", otherwise actors that
-                // set their position relative to this actor will get the wrong offset
-                // TODO: fix the above
-                match id2pos.get(&id.to_string()) {
-                    Some(pos) => {
-                        state.pos += *pos;
-                    }
-                    None => {
-                        error!("Specified `relativeto` command but could not find id `{id}`");
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                }
+                state.relative_to = Some(id.to_string());
             }
             ["orbit", radius_str, phase_str] => {
                 if let (Ok(r), Ok(phase)) = (radius_str.parse::<f64>(), phase_str.parse::<f64>()) {
@@ -239,7 +228,6 @@ pub fn load_defs(
             }
             ["id", id] => {
                 state.id = id.to_string();
-                id2pos.insert(state.id.clone(), state.pos.clone());
             }
             ["alive", "yes"] => {
                 state.is_alive = true;
@@ -468,10 +456,25 @@ fn spawn_entities(
     mut meshes: ResMut<Assets<Mesh>>,
     mut materials: ResMut<Assets<StandardMaterial>>,
     mut materials_jupiter: ResMut<Assets<shading::JupitersRing>>,
+    mut id2pos: ResMut<actor::Id2Pos>,
 ) {
     for state_wrapper in er_spawn.read() {
         let state = &state_wrapper.0;
         if state.class == DefClass::Actor {
+            let relative_pos = if let Some(id) = &state.relative_to {
+                match id2pos.0.get(&id.to_string()) {
+                    Some(pos) => {
+                        state.pos + *pos
+                    }
+                    None => {
+                        error!("Specified `relativeto` command but could not find id `{id}`");
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                state.pos
+            };
+
             let actor_entity;
             {
             let mut actor = commands.spawn_empty();
@@ -484,7 +487,7 @@ fn spawn_entities(
             actor.insert(SleepingDisabled);
             actor.insert(world::DespawnOnPlayerDeath);
             actor.insert(actor::HitPoints::default());
-            actor.insert(Position::from(state.pos));
+            actor.insert(Position::from(relative_pos));
             actor.insert(Rotation::from(state.rotation));
             if state.is_sphere {
                 let sphere_texture_handle = if let Some(model) = &state.model {
@@ -603,6 +606,10 @@ fn spawn_entities(
                     ..default()
                 });
             }
+            if !state.id.is_empty() {
+                actor.insert(actor::Identifier(state.id.clone()));
+                id2pos.0.insert(state.id.clone(), relative_pos);
+            }
             if !state.chat.is_empty() {
                 actor.insert(chat::Talker {
                     actor_id: state.id.clone(),
@@ -661,10 +668,10 @@ fn spawn_entities(
                             ring_radius: nature::JUPITER_RING_RADIUS as f32,
                             jupiter_radius: nature::JUPITER_RADIUS as f32,
                         }),
-                        transform: Transform::from_translation(state.pos.as_vec3()),
+                        transform: Transform::from_translation(relative_pos.as_vec3()),
                         ..default()
                     },
-                    Position::new(state.pos),
+                    Position::new(relative_pos),
                     Rotation::from(Quat::IDENTITY),
                     //Rotation::from(Quat::from_rotation_x(-0.3f32.to_radians())),
                 ));