diff --git a/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp b/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
index e76fffb..62da545 100644
--- a/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
@@ -1231,15 +1231,25 @@ void TetrisApp::Impl::runLoop()
                     }
                 };
 
-                handleSide(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Left, p1LeftHeld, p1RightHeld, p1MoveTimerMs, SDL_SCANCODE_A, SDL_SCANCODE_D, SDL_SCANCODE_S);
-                handleSide(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Right, p2LeftHeld, p2RightHeld, p2MoveTimerMs, SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT, SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT, SDL_SCANCODE_DOWN);
+                if (game->isPaused()) {
+                    // While paused, suppress all continuous input changes so pieces don't drift.
+                    coopGame->setSoftDropping(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Left, false);
+                    coopGame->setSoftDropping(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Right, false);
+                    p1MoveTimerMs = 0.0;
+                    p2MoveTimerMs = 0.0;
+                    p1LeftHeld = false;
+                    p1RightHeld = false;
+                    p2LeftHeld = false;
+                    p2RightHeld = false;
+                } else {
+                    handleSide(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Left, p1LeftHeld, p1RightHeld, p1MoveTimerMs, SDL_SCANCODE_A, SDL_SCANCODE_D, SDL_SCANCODE_S);
+                    handleSide(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Right, p2LeftHeld, p2RightHeld, p2MoveTimerMs, SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT, SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT, SDL_SCANCODE_DOWN);
 
-                p1LeftHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_A];
-                p1RightHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_D];
-                p2LeftHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT];
-                p2RightHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT];
+                    p1LeftHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_A];
+                    p1RightHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_D];
+                    p2LeftHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT];
+                    p2RightHeld = ks[SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT];
 
-                if (!game->isPaused()) {
                     coopGame->tickGravity(frameMs);
                     coopGame->updateVisualEffects(frameMs);
                 }
diff --git a/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp b/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
index 5c0fde3..9f2c2e6 100644
--- a/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
@@ -1259,6 +1259,19 @@ void ApplicationManager::setupStateHandlers() {
             const bool *ks = SDL_GetKeyboardState(nullptr);
 
             if (coopActive) {
+                // Paused: suppress all continuous input so pieces don't drift while paused.
+                if (m_stateContext.game->isPaused()) {
+                    m_stateContext.coopGame->setSoftDropping(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Left, false);
+                    m_stateContext.coopGame->setSoftDropping(CoopGame::PlayerSide::Right, false);
+                    m_p1MoveTimerMs = 0.0;
+                    m_p2MoveTimerMs = 0.0;
+                    m_p1LeftHeld = false;
+                    m_p1RightHeld = false;
+                    m_p2LeftHeld = false;
+                    m_p2RightHeld = false;
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 auto handleSide = [&](CoopGame::PlayerSide side,
                                       bool leftHeld,
                                       bool rightHeld,
diff --git a/src/states/PlayingState.cpp b/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
index 4416b9f..e5268d0 100644
--- a/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
+++ b/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
@@ -133,6 +133,16 @@ void PlayingState::handleEvent(const SDL_Event& e) {
         return;
     }
 
+    // Pause toggle (P) - matches classic behavior; disabled during countdown
+    if (e.key.scancode == SDL_SCANCODE_P) {
+        const bool countdown = (ctx.gameplayCountdownActive && *ctx.gameplayCountdownActive) ||
+                               (ctx.menuPlayCountdownArmed && *ctx.menuPlayCountdownArmed);
+        if (!countdown) {
+            ctx.game->setPaused(!ctx.game->isPaused());
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
     // Tetris controls (only when not paused)
     if (ctx.game->isPaused()) {
         return;