diff --git a/modules/core/src/lib/deck-picker.js b/modules/core/src/lib/deck-picker.js
index 1ddbd7d3e28..f22fa8b9cf8 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/lib/deck-picker.js
+++ b/modules/core/src/lib/deck-picker.js
@@ -186,8 +186,9 @@ export default class DeckPicker {
           redrawReason: 'pick-z',
           pickZ: true
         });
-        // picked value is in common space (pixels)
-        z = zValues[0] * viewports[0].distanceScales.metersPerPixel[2];
+        // picked value is in common space (pixels) from the camera target (viewport.position)
+        // convert it to meters from the ground
+        z = zValues[0] * viewports[0].distanceScales.metersPerPixel[2] + viewports[0].position[2];
       }
 
       // Only exclude if we need to run picking again.