diff --git a/inc/player.inc b/inc/player.inc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3874d76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inc/player.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+DEF PLAYER_STATEF_WALK EQU 0
+DEF PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP EQU 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/player.s b/src/player.s
index ec60a91..f2043d9 100644
--- a/src/player.s
+++ b/src/player.s
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 INCLUDE "hardware.inc"
 INCLUDE "oam.inc"
+INCLUDE "player.inc"
 INCLUDE "util.inc"
 
 Section "Player Data", WRAM0
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ PLAYER_X:: db
 PLAYER_Y:: dw
 PLAYER_DIR:: db
 
-PLAYER_JUMPING:: db
+PLAYER_STATE:: db
 PLAYER_VY:: dw
 
 Section "Player Code", ROM0
@@ -57,20 +58,20 @@ Player_Update::
     jr z, .jump_update_check
 
     ; initialize jump state if not already jumping
-    ld a, [PLAYER_JUMPING]
-    or a
+    ld a, [PLAYER_STATE]
+    cp PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP
     jr nz, .jump_update
 
-    ld a, 1
-    ld [PLAYER_JUMPING], a
+    ld a, PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP
+    ld [PLAYER_STATE], a
 
     ld hl, PLAYER_VY
     STORE16 INIT_VY
 
 ; todo: deduplicate
 .jump_update_check:
-    ld a, [PLAYER_JUMPING]
-    or a
+    ld a, [PLAYER_STATE]
+    cp PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP
     jr z, .right
 
 .jump_update:
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ Player_Update::
     call player_bg_collides
     jr nz, .jump_rollback
 
-    ; set PLAYER_JUMPING = 0 if VY < 0 (fell into ground)
+    ; set PLAYER_STATE = PLAYER_STATEF_WALK if VY < 0 (fell into ground)
     ld hl, PLAYER_VY
     bit 7, [hl]
 
@@ -136,8 +137,8 @@ Player_Update::
 
     jr z, .jump_Player_UpdateOAM
 
-    xor a
-    ld [PLAYER_JUMPING], a
+    ld a, PLAYER_STATEF_WALK
+    ld [PLAYER_STATE], a
 
 .jump_Player_UpdateOAM:
     call Player_UpdateOAM
@@ -216,12 +217,12 @@ Player_Update::
     ret nz
 
     ; only set jump state if not already jumping
-    ld hl, PLAYER_JUMPING
+    ld hl, PLAYER_STATE
     ld a, [hl]
-    or a
+    or PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP
     ret nz
 
-    ld [hl], 1
+    ld [hl], PLAYER_STATEF_JUMP
 
     ld hl, PLAYER_VY
     STORE16 INIT_FALL_VY