diff --git a/src/player.cpp b/src/player.cpp
index 12f18de75..147b6c97a 100644
--- a/src/player.cpp
+++ b/src/player.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ std::wstring privsToString(u64 privs)
 		os<<L"settime,";
 	if(privs & PRIV_PRIVS)
 		os<<L"privs,";
+	if(privs & PRIV_SHOUT)
+		os<<L"shout,";
 	if(os.tellp())
 	{
 		// Drop the trailing comma. (Why on earth can't
@@ -65,6 +67,8 @@ u64 stringToPrivs(std::wstring str)
 			privs |= PRIV_SETTIME;
 		else if(*i == L"privs")
 			privs |= PRIV_PRIVS;
+		else if(*i == L"shout")
+			privs |= PRIV_SHOUT;
 		else
 			return PRIV_INVALID;
 	}
diff --git a/src/player.h b/src/player.h
index 925252e49..4b776a03f 100644
--- a/src/player.h
+++ b/src/player.h
@@ -34,14 +34,19 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 // of the player, and define things they're allowed to do. See also
 // the static methods Player::privsToString and stringToPrivs that
 // convert these to human-readable form.
-const u64 PRIV_BUILD = 1;	// Can build - i.e. modify the world
-				//  (not enforced yet)
-const u64 PRIV_TELEPORT = 2;	// Can teleport
-const u64 PRIV_SETTIME = 4;	// Can set the time
-const u64 PRIV_PRIVS = 8;	// Can grant and revoke privileges
-const u64 PRIV_SERVER = 16;	// Can manage the server (e.g. shutodwn ,settings)
+const u64 PRIV_BUILD = 1;            // Can build - i.e. modify the world
+const u64 PRIV_TELEPORT = 2;         // Can teleport
+const u64 PRIV_SETTIME = 4;          // Can set the time
+const u64 PRIV_PRIVS = 8;            // Can grant and revoke privileges
+const u64 PRIV_SERVER = 16;          // Can manage the server (e.g. shutodwn
+                                     // ,settings)
+const u64 PRIV_SHOUT = 32;           // Can broadcast chat messages to all
+                                     // players
 
-const u64 PRIV_DEFAULT = PRIV_BUILD;
+// Default privileges - these can be overriden for new players using the
+// config option "default_privs" - however, this value still applies for
+// players that existed before the privileges system was added.
+const u64 PRIV_DEFAULT = PRIV_BUILD|PRIV_SHOUT;
 const u64 PRIV_ALL = 0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFULL;
 const u64 PRIV_INVALID = 0x8000000000000000ULL;
 
diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index 9b4ee1fad..6a4fe3c02 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -2908,6 +2908,12 @@ void Server::ProcessData(u8 *data, u32 datasize, u16 peer_id)
 		// Whether to send to other players
 		bool send_to_others = false;
 		
+		// Local player gets all privileges regardless of
+		// what's set on their account.
+		u64 privs = player->privs;
+		if(g_settings.get("name") == player->getName())
+			privs = PRIV_ALL;
+
 		// Parse commands
 		std::wstring commandprefix = L"/#";
 		if(message.substr(0, commandprefix.size()) == commandprefix)
@@ -2916,12 +2922,6 @@ void Server::ProcessData(u8 *data, u32 datasize, u16 peer_id)
 
 			message = message.substr(commandprefix.size());
 
-			// Local player gets all privileges regardless of
-			// what's set on their account.
-			u64 privs = player->privs;
-			if(g_settings.get("name") == player->getName())
-				privs = PRIV_ALL;
-
 			ServerCommandContext *ctx = new ServerCommandContext(
 				str_split(message, L' '),
 				this,
@@ -2937,13 +2937,19 @@ void Server::ProcessData(u8 *data, u32 datasize, u16 peer_id)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			line += L"<";
-			/*if(is_operator)
-				line += L"@";*/
-			line += name;
-			line += L"> ";
-			line += message;
-			send_to_others = true;
+			if(privs & PRIV_SHOUT)
+			{
+				line += L"<";
+				line += name;
+				line += L"> ";
+				line += message;
+				send_to_others = true;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				line += L"Server: You are not allowed to shout";
+				send_to_sender = true;
+			}
 		}
 		
 		if(line != L"")