diff --git a/src/point_tris_dist.cc b/src/point_tris_dist.cc
index 53bb241..74a826e 100644
--- a/src/point_tris_dist.cc
+++ b/src/point_tris_dist.cc
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ double pointTriangleDistance(double *p, vtkCell *triangle, double *direction) {
 	double db = vtkMath::Dot(vecTB, bp);
 	double dc = vtkMath::Dot(vecTC, cp);
 
+    double distance = 0;
+
 	if(da <= 0 && db <= 0 && dc <= 0) {
         double na[3] = {
             n[0] * a[0],
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ double pointTriangleDistance(double *p, vtkCell *triangle, double *direction) {
         direction[1] = nt[1];
         direction[2] = nt[2];
         vtkMath::Normalize(direction);
-        return vtkMath::Norm(nt);
+        distance = vtkMath::Norm(nt);
 
 	} else {
         double normalA[3];
@@ -105,6 +107,16 @@ double pointTriangleDistance(double *p, vtkCell *triangle, double *direction) {
             direction[2] = normalC[2];
         }
 
-        return min;
+        distance = min;
 	}
+
+    if(vtkMath::Dot(direction, n) < 0) {
+        direction[0] = -direction[0];
+        direction[1] = -direction[1];
+        direction[2] = -direction[2];
+
+        return -distance;
+    } else {
+        return distance;
+    }
 }