Marlin XT-22 issue.....

Have an xt-22 that will only allow the safety to be engaged while the bolt is open. The safety works as it should, but if you flip the safety to "fire" you cannot put it back to "safe" unless you open the bolt. Anybody heard of such?

Something may be in a bind. Try taking the barrelled action out of the stock and see if the safety works right with it out. If it does, you've got something binding up when it goes in the stock.

I will check my xt-22 tonight, and report back