diff --git a/crates/pumpkin/src/entity/player.rs b/crates/pumpkin/src/entity/player.rs
index 5c3b6143d..1baa45540 100644
--- a/crates/pumpkin/src/entity/player.rs
+++ b/crates/pumpkin/src/entity/player.rs
@@ -1585,7 +1585,11 @@ impl Player {
         );
 
         if victim.get_living_entity().is_some() {
-            let mut knockback_strength = 1.0 + f64::from(knockback_level);
+            // Vanilla `Player.attack` adds `LivingEntity.getKnockback()` - the Knockback
+            // enchantment bonus, halved - plus 0.5 for a sprint attack, on top of the base
+            // knockback the victim's damage handling applies. A plain hit adds nothing.
+            // `handle_knockback` halves `strength`, so these are twice the vanilla amount.
+            let mut knockback_strength = f64::from(knockback_level);
             match attack_type {
                 AttackType::Knockback => knockback_strength += 1.0,
                 AttackType::Sweeping => {
@@ -1624,7 +1628,10 @@ impl Player {
                 }
                 _ => {}
             }
-            if config.knockback {
+            // Vanilla only pushes the victim when the extra knockback is non-zero;
+            // `Entity::knockback` halves the current velocity, so calling it with 0.0
+            // would still slow the victim down.
+            if config.knockback && knockback_strength > 0.0 {
                 combat::handle_knockback(attacker_entity, victim.as_ref(), knockback_strength);
             }
         }