diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index e9605ee49..ded7b580f 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -3989,6 +3989,10 @@ Environment access
         * mode = `"quick"`: Clear objects immediately in loaded mapblocks,
                             clear objects in unloaded mapblocks only when the
                             mapblocks are next activated.
+* `minetest.load_area(pos1[, pos2])`
+    * Load the mapblocks containing the area from `pos1` to `pos2`.
+      `pos2` defaults to `pos1` if not specified.
+    * This function does not trigger map generation.
 * `minetest.emerge_area(pos1, pos2, [callback], [param])`
     * Queue all blocks in the area from `pos1` to `pos2`, inclusive, to be
       asynchronously fetched from memory, loaded from disk, or if inexistent,
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
index ba2be0cb5..711bd3fdd 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
@@ -1047,6 +1047,30 @@ int ModApiEnvMod::l_raycast(lua_State *L)
 	return LuaRaycast::create_object(L);
 }
 
+// load_area(p1, [p2])
+// load mapblocks in area p1..p2, but do not generate map
+int ModApiEnvMod::l_load_area(lua_State *L)
+{
+	GET_ENV_PTR;
+	MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
+
+	Map *map = &(env->getMap());
+	v3s16 bp1 = getNodeBlockPos(check_v3s16(L, 1));
+	if (!lua_istable(L, 2)) {
+		map->emergeBlock(bp1);
+	} else {
+		v3s16 bp2 = getNodeBlockPos(check_v3s16(L, 2));
+		sortBoxVerticies(bp1, bp2);
+		for (s16 z = bp1.Z; z <= bp2.Z; z++)
+		for (s16 y = bp1.Y; y <= bp2.Y; y++)
+		for (s16 x = bp1.X; x <= bp2.X; x++) {
+			map->emergeBlock(v3s16(x, y, z));
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 // emerge_area(p1, p2, [callback, context])
 // emerge mapblocks in area p1..p2, calls callback with context upon completion
 int ModApiEnvMod::l_emerge_area(lua_State *L)
@@ -1287,6 +1311,7 @@ void ModApiEnvMod::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 	API_FCT(find_nodes_in_area);
 	API_FCT(find_nodes_in_area_under_air);
 	API_FCT(fix_light);
+	API_FCT(load_area);
 	API_FCT(emerge_area);
 	API_FCT(delete_area);
 	API_FCT(get_perlin);
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
index 4a8700f12..68a4eae50 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ private:
 	// fix_light(p1, p2) -> true/false
 	static int l_fix_light(lua_State *L);
 
+	// load_area(p1)
+	static int l_load_area(lua_State *L);
+
 	// emerge_area(p1, p2)
 	static int l_emerge_area(lua_State *L);