diff --git a/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua b/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
index 88bae2b0b..aa118b443 100644
--- a/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
+++ b/builtin/common/misc_helpers.lua
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ if INIT == "game" then
 	local dirs2 = {20, 23, 22, 21}
 
 	function core.rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing,
-				infinitestacks, orient_flags)
+			infinitestacks, orient_flags, prevent_after_place)
 		orient_flags = orient_flags or {}
 
 		local unode = core.get_node_or_nil(pointed_thing.under)
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ if INIT == "game" then
 
 		local old_itemstack = ItemStack(itemstack)
 		local new_itemstack, removed = core.item_place_node(
-			itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2
+			itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2, prevent_after_place
 		)
 		return infinitestacks and old_itemstack or new_itemstack
 	end
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ if INIT == "game" then
 		local invert_wall = placer and placer:get_player_control().sneak or false
 		core.rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing,
 				is_creative(name),
-				{invert_wall = invert_wall})
+				{invert_wall = invert_wall}, true)
 		return itemstack
 	end
 end
diff --git a/builtin/game/item.lua b/builtin/game/item.lua
index a7176711f..8fbe5b672 100644
--- a/builtin/game/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/item.lua
@@ -261,7 +261,8 @@ local function make_log(name)
 	return name ~= "" and core.log or function() end
 end
 
-function core.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2)
+function core.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2,
+		prevent_after_place)
 	local def = itemstack:get_definition()
 	if def.type ~= "node" or pointed_thing.type ~= "node" then
 		return itemstack, false
@@ -375,7 +376,7 @@ function core.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2)
 	local take_item = true
 
 	-- Run callback
-	if def.after_place_node then
+	if def.after_place_node and not prevent_after_place then
 		-- Deepcopy place_to and pointed_thing because callback can modify it
 		local place_to_copy = {x=place_to.x, y=place_to.y, z=place_to.z}
 		local pointed_thing_copy = copy_pointed_thing(pointed_thing)
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 946340cb3..69c4b3262 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -3461,9 +3461,11 @@ You can find mod channels communication scheme in `docs/mod_channels.png`.
 ### Defaults for the `on_*` item definition functions
 These functions return the leftover itemstack.
 
-* `minetest.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, param2)`
+* `minetest.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing[, param2, prevent_after_place])`
     * Place item as a node
     * `param2` overrides `facedir` and wallmounted `param2`
+    * `prevent_after_place`: if set to `true`, `after_place_node` is not called
+      for the newly placed node to prevent a callback and placement loop
     * returns `itemstack, success`
 * `minetest.item_place_object(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)`
     * Place item as-is
@@ -3784,13 +3786,14 @@ These functions return the leftover itemstack.
     * Like `minetest.is_protected`, this function may be extended or
       overwritten by mods to provide a faster implementation to check the
       cuboid for intersections.
-* `minetest.rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, infinitestacks, orient_flags)`
+* `minetest.rotate_and_place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing[, infinitestacks,
+        orient_flags, prevent_after_place])`
     * Attempt to predict the desired orientation of the facedir-capable node
       defined by `itemstack`, and place it accordingly (on-wall, on the floor,
-      or hanging from the ceiling). Stacks are handled normally if the
-      `infinitestacks` field is false or omitted (else, the itemstack is not
-      changed). `orient_flags` is an optional table containing extra tweaks to
-      the placement code:
+      or hanging from the ceiling).
+    * `infinitestacks`: if `true`, the itemstack is not changed. Otherwise the
+      stacks are handled normally.
+    * `orient_flags`: Optional table containing extra tweaks to the placement code:
         * `invert_wall`:   if `true`, place wall-orientation on the ground and
           ground-orientation on the wall.
         * `force_wall` :   if `true`, always place the node in wall orientation.
@@ -3800,10 +3803,12 @@ These functions return the leftover itemstack.
           when placing on the floor or ceiling.
         * The first four options are mutually-exclusive; the last in the list
           takes precedence over the first.
+    * `prevent_after_place` is directly passed to `minetest.item_place_node`
+    * Returns the new itemstack after placement
 * `minetest.rotate_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)`
-    * calls `rotate_and_place()` with infinitestacks set according to the state
-      of the creative mode setting, and checks for "sneak" to set the
-      `invert_wall` parameter.
+    * calls `rotate_and_place()` with `infinitestacks` set according to the state
+      of the creative mode setting, checks for "sneak" to set the `invert_wall`
+      parameter and `prevent_after_place` set to `true`.
 
 * `minetest.forceload_block(pos[, transient])`
     * forceloads the position `pos`.