diff --git a/builtin/game/misc.lua b/builtin/game/misc.lua
index 05237662c..ef826eda7 100644
--- a/builtin/game/misc.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/misc.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,16 @@ local S = core.get_translator("__builtin")
 -- Misc. API functions
 --
 
+-- @spec core.kick_player(String, String) :: Boolean
+function core.kick_player(player_name, reason)
+	if type(reason) == "string" then
+		reason = "Kicked: " .. reason
+	else
+		reason = "Kicked."
+	end
+	return core.disconnect_player(player_name, reason)
+end
+
 function core.check_player_privs(name, ...)
 	if core.is_player(name) then
 		name = name:get_player_name()
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 0a63642af..aff739cfb 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -5741,6 +5741,10 @@ Bans
 * `minetest.kick_player(name, [reason])`: disconnect a player with an optional
   reason.
     * Returns boolean indicating success (false if player nonexistant)
+* `minetest.disconnect_player(name, [reason])`: disconnect a player with an
+  optional reason, this will not prefix with 'Kicked: ' like kick_player.
+  If no reason is given, it will default to 'Disconnected.'
+    * Returns boolean indicating success (false if player nonexistant)
 
 Particles
 ---------
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
index 476f74c9c..82a692070 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
@@ -310,8 +310,8 @@ int ModApiServer::l_ban_player(lua_State *L)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-// kick_player(name, [reason]) -> success
-int ModApiServer::l_kick_player(lua_State *L)
+// disconnect_player(name, [reason]) -> success
+int ModApiServer::l_disconnect_player(lua_State *L)
 {
 	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
 
@@ -319,11 +319,11 @@ int ModApiServer::l_kick_player(lua_State *L)
 		throw LuaError("Can't kick player before server has started up");
 
 	const char *name = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
-	std::string message("Kicked");
+	std::string message;
 	if (lua_isstring(L, 2))
-		message.append(": ").append(readParam<std::string>(L, 2));
+		message.append(readParam<std::string>(L, 2));
 	else
-		message.append(".");
+		message.append("Disconnected.");
 
 	RemotePlayer *player = dynamic_cast<ServerEnvironment *>(getEnv(L))->getPlayer(name);
 	if (player == NULL) {
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ void ModApiServer::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 	API_FCT(get_ban_list);
 	API_FCT(get_ban_description);
 	API_FCT(ban_player);
-	API_FCT(kick_player);
+	API_FCT(disconnect_player);
 	API_FCT(remove_player);
 	API_FCT(unban_player_or_ip);
 	API_FCT(notify_authentication_modified);
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.h
index a6f709787..f05c0b7c9 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.h
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ private:
 	// unban_player_or_ip()
 	static int l_unban_player_or_ip(lua_State *L);
 
-	// kick_player(name, [message]) -> success
-	static int l_kick_player(lua_State *L);
+	// disconnect_player(name, [reason]) -> success
+	static int l_disconnect_player(lua_State *L);
 
 	// remove_player(name)
 	static int l_remove_player(lua_State *L);