diff --git a/mods/stairs/init.lua b/mods/stairs/init.lua
index 1379c8c0..835b2193 100644
--- a/mods/stairs/init.lua
+++ b/mods/stairs/init.lua
@@ -17,6 +17,30 @@ minetest.register_alias("stairs:slab_pinewood", "stairs:slab_pine_wood")
 
 local replace = minetest.setting_getbool("enable_stairs_replace_abm")
 
+local function rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+	local p0 = pointed_thing.under
+	local p1 = pointed_thing.above
+	local param2 = 0
+
+	local placer_pos = placer:getpos()
+	if placer_pos then
+		param2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(vector.subtract(p1, placer_pos))
+	end
+
+	local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
+	local fpos = finepos.y % 1
+
+	if p0.y - 1 == p1.y or (fpos > 0 and fpos < 0.5)
+			or (fpos < -0.5 and fpos > -0.999999999) then
+		param2 = param2 + 20
+		if param2 == 21 then
+			param2 = 23
+		elseif param2 == 23 then
+			param2 = 21
+		end
+	end
+	return minetest.item_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2)
+end
 
 -- Register stairs.
 -- Node will be called stairs:stair_<subname>
@@ -52,30 +76,7 @@ function stairs.register_stair(subname, recipeitem, groups, images, description,
 				return itemstack
 			end
 
-			local p0 = pointed_thing.under
-			local p1 = pointed_thing.above
-			local param2 = 0
-
-			local placer_pos = placer:getpos()
-			if placer_pos then
-				local dir = {
-					x = p1.x - placer_pos.x,
-					y = p1.y - placer_pos.y,
-					z = p1.z - placer_pos.z
-				}
-				param2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(dir)
-			end
-
-			if p0.y - 1 == p1.y then
-				param2 = param2 + 20
-				if param2 == 21 then
-					param2 = 23
-				elseif param2 == 23 then
-					param2 = 21
-				end
-			end
-
-			return minetest.item_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2)
+			return rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 		end,
 	})
 
@@ -126,8 +127,6 @@ end
 
 -- Slab facedir to placement 6d matching table
 local slab_trans_dir = {[0] = 8, 0, 2, 1, 3, 4}
--- Slab facedir when placing initial slab against other surface
-local slab_trans_dir_place = {[0] = 0, 20, 12, 16, 4, 8}
 
 -- Register slabs.
 -- Node will be called stairs:slab_<subname>
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ function stairs.register_slab(subname, recipeitem, groups, images, description,
 			local creative_enabled = (creative and creative.is_enabled_for
 					and creative.is_enabled_for(placer:get_player_name()))
 
-			if under and wield_item == under.name then
+			if under and under.name:find("stairs:slab_") then
 				-- place slab using under node orientation
 				local dir = minetest.dir_to_facedir(vector.subtract(
 					pointed_thing.above, pointed_thing.under), true)
@@ -161,7 +160,9 @@ function stairs.register_slab(subname, recipeitem, groups, images, description,
 				local p2 = under.param2
 
 				-- combine two slabs if possible
-				if slab_trans_dir[math.floor(p2 / 4)] == dir then
+				if slab_trans_dir[math.floor(p2 / 4)] == dir
+						and wield_item == under.name then
+
 					if not recipeitem then
 						return itemstack
 					end
@@ -194,16 +195,7 @@ function stairs.register_slab(subname, recipeitem, groups, images, description,
 				end
 				return itemstack
 			else
-				-- place slab using look direction of player
-				local dir = minetest.dir_to_wallmounted(vector.subtract(
-					pointed_thing.above, pointed_thing.under), true)
-
-				local rot = slab_trans_dir_place[dir]
-				if rot == 0 or rot == 20 then
-					rot = rot + minetest.dir_to_facedir(placer:get_look_dir())
-				end
-
-				return minetest.item_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, rot)
+				return rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 			end
 		end,
 	})