--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@
 
 static const itype_id itype_battery( "battery" );
 static const itype_id itype_grapnel( "grapnel" );
+static const itype_id itype_hackerlaptop( "hacker_laptop" );
 static const itype_id itype_holybook_bible1( "holybook_bible1" );
 static const itype_id itype_holybook_bible2( "holybook_bible2" );
 static const itype_id itype_holybook_bible3( "holybook_bible3" );
@@ -2501,7 +2502,8 @@
     remoteveh_cache_time = calendar::turn;
     std::stringstream remote_veh_string( u.get_value( "remote_controlling_vehicle" ) );
     if( remote_veh_string.str().empty() ||
-        ( !u.has_active_bionic( bio_remote ) && !u.has_active_item( itype_remotevehcontrol ) ) ) {
+        ( !u.has_active_bionic( bio_remote ) && !u.has_active_item( itype_remotevehcontrol )
+          && !u.has_active_item( itype_hackerlaptop ) ) ) {
         remoteveh_cache = nullptr;
     } else {
         tripoint vp;
@@ -2521,7 +2523,7 @@
     remoteveh_cache_time = calendar::turn;
     remoteveh_cache = veh;
     if( veh != nullptr && !u.has_active_bionic( bio_remote ) &&
-        !u.has_active_item( itype_remotevehcontrol ) ) {
+        !u.has_active_item( itype_remotevehcontrol ) && !u.has_active_item( itype_hackerlaptop ) ) {
         debugmsg( "Tried to set remote vehicle without bio_remote or remotevehcontrol" );
         veh = nullptr;
     }