diff --git a/orx-fcurve/README.md b/orx-fcurve/README.md
index f3c3c026..2bdbda71 100644
--- a/orx-fcurve/README.md
+++ b/orx-fcurve/README.md
@@ -6,15 +6,16 @@ They are often used to control a property over time.
 
 The language to express FCurves is similar to SVG's path language.
 
-| Relative command    | Absolute command      | Description                                                 |
-|---------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
-| `m y`               | `M y`                 | move the pen only in the y-direction                        |
-| `h x`               | `H x`                 | hold a value to draw a horizontal line                      |
-| `l x,y`             | `L x,y`               | line to (x, y)                                              |
-| `q x0,y0,x,y`       | `Q x0,y0,x,y`         | quadratic bezier to (x,y) and control-point (x0, y0)        |
-| `c x0,y0,x1,y1,x,y` | `C x0,y0,x1,y1,x,y`   | cubic bezier to (x,y) and control-points (x0, y0), (x1, y1) |
-| `t x,y`             | `T x,y`               | quadratic smooth to (x, y)                                  |
-| `s x1,y1,x,y`       | `S x1,y1,x,y`         | cubic smooth to (x,y) and control point (x1, y1)            |
+| Relative command    | Absolute command    | Description                                                  |
+|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `m y`               | `M y`               | move the pen only in the y-direction                         |
+| `h x`               |                     | hold a value to draw a horizontal line                       |
+|                     | `H x`               | shift curve in time by x. Can only be used as first command. | 
+| `l x,y`             | `L x,y`             | line to (x, y)                                               |
+| `q x0,y0,x,y`       | `Q x0,y0,x,y`       | quadratic bezier to (x,y) and control-point (x0, y0)         |
+| `c x0,y0,x1,y1,x,y` | `C x0,y0,x1,y1,x,y` | cubic bezier to (x,y) and control-points (x0, y0), (x1, y1)  |
+| `t x,y`             | `T x,y`             | quadratic smooth to (x, y)                                   |
+| `s x1,y1,x,y`       | `S x1,y1,x,y`       | cubic smooth to (x,y) and control point (x1, y1)             |
 
 ## Examples
 
diff --git a/orx-fcurve/src/commonMain/kotlin/FCurve.kt b/orx-fcurve/src/commonMain/kotlin/FCurve.kt
index c67d9801..dd7eaef0 100644
--- a/orx-fcurve/src/commonMain/kotlin/FCurve.kt
+++ b/orx-fcurve/src/commonMain/kotlin/FCurve.kt
@@ -308,11 +308,8 @@ class FCurveBuilder {
         if (relative) {
             lineTo(x, cursor.y)
         } else {
-            val d = x - cursor.x
-            require(d >= 0.0) {
-                "requested to hold until $x, but cursor is already at ${cursor.x}"
-            }
-            lineTo(d, cursor.y)
+            require(segments.isEmpty()) { "absolute hold (H $x) is only allowed when used as first command"}
+            cursor = cursor.copy(x = x)
         }
         path += "h$x"
     }
diff --git a/orx-fcurve/src/commonTest/kotlin/TestFCurve.kt b/orx-fcurve/src/commonTest/kotlin/TestFCurve.kt
index 291e24fe..c62d1b6b 100644
--- a/orx-fcurve/src/commonTest/kotlin/TestFCurve.kt
+++ b/orx-fcurve/src/commonTest/kotlin/TestFCurve.kt
@@ -16,4 +16,20 @@ class TestFCurve {
         assertEquals(10.5, normalizedSampler(1.0))
         assertEquals(10.5, normalizedSampler(-1.0))
     }
+
+    @Test
+    fun testAbsoluteHold() {
+        run {
+            val text = "H-1 L 5 5"
+            val fc = fcurve(text)
+            assertEquals(0.0, fc.value(-1.0))
+            assertEquals(5.0, fc.value(4.0))
+        }
+        run {
+            val text = "H1 L 5 5"
+            val fc = fcurve(text)
+            assertEquals(0.0, fc.value(1.0))
+            assertEquals(5.0, fc.value(6.0))
+        }
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file