diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 74469e535..6bdcd4fe4 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1542,7 +1542,7 @@ examples.
 * If `true` the background is clipped to formspec size
   (`x` and `y` are used as offset values, `w` and `h` are ignored)
 
-#### `pwdfield[<X>,<Y>;<W>,<H>;<name>;<label>;<close_on_enter>]`
+#### `pwdfield[<X>,<Y>;<W>,<H>;<name>;<label>]`
 * Textual password style field; will be sent to server when a button is clicked
 * When enter is pressed in field, fields.key_enter_field will be sent with the name
   of this field.
@@ -1552,10 +1552,9 @@ examples.
 * Position and size units are inventory slots
 * `name` is the name of the field as returned in fields to `on_receive_fields`
 * `label`, if not blank, will be text printed on the top left above the field
-* `close_on_enter` (optional) is whether the form should accept and close when enter is
-  pressed in this field. Defaults to true.
+* See field_close_on_enter to stop enter closing the formspec
 
-#### `field[<X>,<Y>;<W>,<H>;<name>;<label>;<default>;<close_on_enter>]`
+#### `field[<X>,<Y>;<W>,<H>;<name>;<label>;<default>]`
 * Textual field; will be sent to server when a button is clicked
 * When enter is pressed in field, fields.key_enter_field will be sent with the name
   of this field.
@@ -1569,18 +1568,21 @@ examples.
     * `default` may contain variable references such as `${text}'` which
       will fill the value from the metadata value `text`
     * **Note**: no extra text or more than a single variable is supported ATM.
-* `close_on_enter` (optional) is whether the form should accept and close when enter is
-  pressed in this field. Defaults to true.
+* See field_close_on_enter to stop enter closing the formspec
 
-#### `field[<name>;<label>;<default>;<close_on_enter>]`
+#### `field[<name>;<label>;<default>]`
 * As above, but without position/size units
 * When enter is pressed in field, fields.key_enter_field will be sent with the name
   of this field.
 * Special field for creating simple forms, such as sign text input
 * Must be used without a `size[]` element
 * A "Proceed" button will be added automatically
-* `close_on_enter` (optional) is whether the form should accept and close when enter is
-  pressed in this field. Defaults to true.
+* See field_close_on_enter to stop enter closing the formspec
+
+#### `field_close_on_enter[<name>;<close_on_enter>]`
+* <name> is the name of the field
+* if <close_on_enter> is false, pressing enter in the field will submit the form but not close it
+* defaults to true when not specified (ie: no tag for a field)
 
 #### `textarea[<X>,<Y>;<W>,<H>;<name>;<label>;<default>]`
 * Same as fields above, but with multi-line input
diff --git a/src/guiFormSpecMenu.cpp b/src/guiFormSpecMenu.cpp
index 714e71a5a..73388114b 100644
--- a/src/guiFormSpecMenu.cpp
+++ b/src/guiFormSpecMenu.cpp
@@ -914,6 +914,16 @@ void GUIFormSpecMenu::parseDropDown(parserData* data,std::string element)
 				<< element << "'"  << std::endl;
 }
 
+void GUIFormSpecMenu::parseFieldCloseOnEnter(parserData *data,
+		const std::string &element)
+{
+	std::vector<std::string> parts = split(element,';');
+	if (parts.size() == 2 ||
+			(parts.size() > 2 && m_formspec_version > FORMSPEC_API_VERSION)) {
+		field_close_on_enter[parts[0]] = is_yes(parts[1]);
+	}
+}
+
 void GUIFormSpecMenu::parsePwdField(parserData* data,std::string element)
 {
 	std::vector<std::string> parts = split(element,';');
@@ -977,8 +987,11 @@ void GUIFormSpecMenu::parsePwdField(parserData* data,std::string element)
 		evt.KeyInput.PressedDown = true;
 		e->OnEvent(evt);
 
-		if (parts.size() >= 5 && !is_yes(parts[4])) {
-			spec.close_on_enter = false;
+		if (parts.size() >= 5) {
+			// TODO: remove after 2016-11-03
+			warningstream << "pwdfield: use field_close_on_enter[name, enabled]" <<
+					" instead of the 5th param" << std::endl;
+			field_close_on_enter[name] = is_yes(parts[4]);
 		}
 
 		m_fields.push_back(spec);
@@ -1062,8 +1075,11 @@ void GUIFormSpecMenu::parseSimpleField(parserData* data,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (parts.size() >= 4 && !is_yes(parts[3])) {
-		spec.close_on_enter = false;
+	if (parts.size() >= 4) {
+		// TODO: remove after 2016-11-03
+		warningstream << "field/simple: use field_close_on_enter[name, enabled]" <<
+				" instead of the 4th param" << std::endl;
+		field_close_on_enter[name] = is_yes(parts[3]);
 	}
 
 	m_fields.push_back(spec);
@@ -1171,8 +1187,11 @@ void GUIFormSpecMenu::parseTextArea(parserData* data,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (parts.size() >= 6 && !is_yes(parts[5])) {
-		spec.close_on_enter = false;
+	if (parts.size() >= 6) {
+		// TODO: remove after 2016-11-03
+		warningstream << "field/textarea: use field_close_on_enter[name, enabled]" <<
+				" instead of the 6th param" << std::endl;
+		field_close_on_enter[name] = is_yes(parts[5]);
 	}
 
 	m_fields.push_back(spec);
@@ -1783,6 +1802,11 @@ void GUIFormSpecMenu::parseElement(parserData* data, std::string element)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (type == "field_close_on_enter") {
+		parseFieldCloseOnEnter(data, description);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (type == "pwdfield") {
 		parsePwdField(data,description);
 		return;
@@ -3689,7 +3713,11 @@ bool GUIFormSpecMenu::OnEvent(const SEvent& event)
 					if (s.ftype == f_Unknown &&
 							s.fid == event.GUIEvent.Caller->getID()) {
 						current_field_enter_pending = s.fname;
-						close_on_enter = s.close_on_enter;
+						UNORDERED_MAP<std::string, bool>::const_iterator it =
+							field_close_on_enter.find(s.fname);
+						if (it != field_close_on_enter.end())
+							close_on_enter = (*it).second;
+
 						break;
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/src/guiFormSpecMenu.h b/src/guiFormSpecMenu.h
index 153720975..95df11e6a 100644
--- a/src/guiFormSpecMenu.h
+++ b/src/guiFormSpecMenu.h
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ class GUIFormSpecMenu : public GUIModalMenu
 			flabel(label),
 			fid(id),
 			send(false),
-			close_on_enter(false),
 			ftype(f_Unknown),
 			is_exit(false)
 		{
@@ -224,7 +223,6 @@ class GUIFormSpecMenu : public GUIModalMenu
 		std::wstring fdefault;
 		int fid;
 		bool send;
-		bool close_on_enter; // used by text fields
 		FormspecFieldType ftype;
 		bool is_exit;
 		core::rect<s32> rect;
@@ -400,6 +398,7 @@ protected:
 	std::vector<ImageDrawSpec> m_images;
 	std::vector<ImageDrawSpec> m_itemimages;
 	std::vector<BoxDrawSpec> m_boxes;
+	UNORDERED_MAP<std::string, bool> field_close_on_enter;
 	std::vector<FieldSpec> m_fields;
 	std::vector<StaticTextSpec> m_static_texts;
 	std::vector<std::pair<FieldSpec,GUITable*> > m_tables;
@@ -490,6 +489,7 @@ private:
 	void parseTable(parserData* data,std::string element);
 	void parseTextList(parserData* data,std::string element);
 	void parseDropDown(parserData* data,std::string element);
+	void parseFieldCloseOnEnter(parserData *data, const std::string &element);
 	void parsePwdField(parserData* data,std::string element);
 	void parseField(parserData* data,std::string element,std::string type);
 	void parseSimpleField(parserData* data,std::vector<std::string> &parts);