diff --git a/src/modules/fw_pos_control_l1/fw_pos_control_l1_main.cpp b/src/modules/fw_pos_control_l1/fw_pos_control_l1_main.cpp
index 33a78f3141..4f3fdac91c 100644
--- a/src/modules/fw_pos_control_l1/fw_pos_control_l1_main.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/fw_pos_control_l1/fw_pos_control_l1_main.cpp
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@ private:
 	float	_hdg_hold_yaw;				/**< hold heading for velocity mode */
 	bool	_hdg_hold_enabled;			/**< heading hold enabled */
 	bool	_yaw_lock_engaged;			/**< yaw is locked for heading hold */
+	float	_althold_epv;				/**< the position estimate accuracy when engaging alt hold */
+	bool	_was_in_deadband;				/**< wether the last stick input was in althold deadband */
 	struct position_setpoint_s _hdg_hold_prev_wp;	/**< position where heading hold started */
 	struct position_setpoint_s _hdg_hold_curr_wp;	/**< position to which heading hold flies */
 	hrt_abstime _control_position_last_called; /**<last call of control_position  */
@@ -508,6 +510,8 @@ FixedwingPositionControl::FixedwingPositionControl() :
 	_hdg_hold_yaw(0.0f),
 	_hdg_hold_enabled(false),
 	_yaw_lock_engaged(false),
+	_althold_epv(0.0f),
+	_was_in_deadband(false),
 	_hdg_hold_prev_wp{},
 	_hdg_hold_curr_wp{},
 	_control_position_last_called(0),
@@ -968,12 +972,20 @@ float FixedwingPositionControl::get_terrain_altitude_landing(float land_setpoint
 
 bool FixedwingPositionControl::update_desired_altitude(float dt)
 {
-	const float deadBand = (60.0f/1000.0f);
+	/*
+	 * The complete range is -1..+1, so this is 6%
+	 * of the up or down range or 3% of the total range.
+	 */
+	const float deadBand = 0.06f;
+
+	/*
+	 * The correct scaling of the complete range needs
+	 * to account for the missing part of the slope
+	 * due to the deadband
+	 */
 	const float factor = 1.0f - deadBand;
-	// XXX this should go into a manual stick mapper
-	// class
-	static float _althold_epv = 0.0f;
-	static bool was_in_deadband = false;
+
+	/* Climbout mode sets maximum throttle and pitch up */
 	bool climbout_mode = false;
 
 	/*
@@ -988,24 +1000,29 @@ bool FixedwingPositionControl::update_desired_altitude(float dt)
 		_althold_epv = _global_pos.epv;
 	}
 
-	// XXX the sign magic in this function needs to be fixed
-
+	/*
+	 * Manual control has as convention the rotation around
+	 * an axis. Positive X means to rotate positively around
+	 * the X axis in NED frame, which is pitching down
+	 */
 	if (_manual.x > deadBand) {
-		float pitch = (_manual.x - deadBand) / factor;
-		_hold_alt -= (_parameters.max_climb_rate * dt) * pitch;
-		was_in_deadband = false;
-		climbout_mode = (fabsf(_manual.x) > MANUAL_THROTTLE_CLIMBOUT_THRESH);
+		/* pitching down */
+		float pitch = -(_manual.x - deadBand) / factor;
+		_hold_alt += (_parameters.max_sink_rate * dt) * pitch;
+		_was_in_deadband = false;
 	} else if (_manual.x < - deadBand) {
-		float pitch = (_manual.x + deadBand) / factor;
-		_hold_alt -= (_parameters.max_sink_rate * dt) * pitch;
-		was_in_deadband = false;
-	} else if (!was_in_deadband) {
+		/* pitching up */
+		float pitch = -(_manual.x + deadBand) / factor;
+		_hold_alt += (_parameters.max_climb_rate * dt) * pitch;
+		_was_in_deadband = false;
+		climbout_mode = (pitch > MANUAL_THROTTLE_CLIMBOUT_THRESH);
+	} else if (!_was_in_deadband) {
 		 /* store altitude at which manual.x was inside deadBand
 		  * The aircraft should immediately try to fly at this altitude
 		  * as this is what the pilot expects when he moves the stick to the center */
 		_hold_alt = _global_pos.alt;
 		_althold_epv = _global_pos.epv;
-		was_in_deadband = true;
+		_was_in_deadband = true;
 	}
 
 	return climbout_mode;