diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 99b06ff..cc40630 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,6 +83,22 @@ Replace all instances of <search node> with <place node> in the current WorldEdi
     //replace dirt flowers:flower_waterlily
     //replace flowers:flower_rose flowers:flower_tulip
 
+### //hollowcylinder x/y/z <length> <radius> <node>
+
+Add hollow cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>.
+
+    //hollowcylinder x +5 8 dirt
+    //hollowcylinder y 28 10 default:glass
+    //hollowcylinder z -12 3 mesecons:mesecon
+
+### //cylinder x/y/z <length> <radius> <node>
+
+Add cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>.
+
+    //cylinder x +5 8 dirt
+    //cylinder y 28 10 default:glass
+    //cylinder z -12 3 mesecons:mesecon
+
 ### //copy x/y/z <amount>
 
 Copy the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z axis by <amount> nodes.
@@ -173,6 +189,18 @@ Replaces all instances of `searchnode` with `replacenode` in a region defined by
 
 Returns the number of nodes replaced.
 
+### worldedit.hollow_cylinder(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+
+Adds a hollow cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`.
+
+Returns the number of nodes added.
+
+### worldedit.cylinder(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+
+Adds a cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`.
+
+Returns the number of nodes added.
+
 ### worldedit.copy(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
 
 Copies the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes.
diff --git a/functions.lua b/functions.lua
index 625fafb..270b50e 100644
--- a/functions.lua
+++ b/functions.lua
@@ -72,6 +72,116 @@ worldedit.replace = function(pos1, pos2, searchnode, replacenode)
 	return count
 end
 
+--adds a hollow cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.hollow_cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+	local other1, other2
+	if axis == "x" then
+		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
+	elseif axis == "y" then
+		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
+	else --axis == "z"
+		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
+	end
+
+	local env = minetest.env
+	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local count = 0
+	for i = 1, length do
+		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
+		local delta = -radius
+		while offset1 <= offset2 do
+			--add node at each octant
+			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset1, pos[other1] - offset1
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
+			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1
+			currentpos[other1] = first2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 4
+			currentpos[other2] = second2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5
+			currentpos[other1] = first1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 8
+			local first1, first2 = pos[other1] + offset2, pos[other1] - offset2
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
+			currentpos[other1], currentpos[other2] = first1, second1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2
+			currentpos[other1] = first2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 3
+			currentpos[other2] = second2
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6
+			currentpos[other1] = first1
+			env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 7
+
+			count = count + 8 --wip: broken
+
+			--move to next location
+			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
+			if delta >= 0 then
+				offset2 = offset2 - 1
+				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
+			end
+			offset1 = offset1 + 1
+		end
+		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + 1
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
+--adds a cylinder at `pos` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") with length `length` and radius `radius`, returning the number of nodes added
+worldedit.cylinder = function(pos, axis, length, radius, nodename)
+	local other1, other2
+	if axis == "x" then
+		other1, other2 = "y", "z"
+	elseif axis == "y" then
+		other1, other2 = "x", "z"
+	else --axis == "z"
+		other1, other2 = "x", "y"
+	end
+
+	local env = minetest.env
+	local currentpos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y, z=pos.z}
+	local node = {name=nodename}
+	local count = 0
+	for i = 1, length do
+		local offset1, offset2 = 0, radius
+		local delta = -radius
+		while offset1 <= offset2 do
+			--connect each pair of octants
+			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset1
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset2, pos[other2] - offset2
+			for i = 0, offset1 * 2 do
+				currentpos[other2] = second1
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 1 to 4
+				currentpos[other2] = second2
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 5 to 8
+				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
+			end
+			currentpos[other1] = pos[other1] - offset2
+			local second1, second2 = pos[other2] + offset1, pos[other2] - offset1
+			for i = 0, offset2 * 2 do
+				currentpos[other2] = second1
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 2 to 3
+				currentpos[other2] = second2
+				env:add_node(currentpos, node) --octant 6 to 7
+				currentpos[other1] = currentpos[other1] + 1
+			end
+
+			count = count + (offset1 * 4) + (offset2 * 4) + 4 --wip: broken
+
+			--move to next location
+			delta = delta + (offset1 * 2) + 1
+			offset1 = offset1 + 1
+			if delta >= 0 then
+				offset2 = offset2 - 1
+				delta = delta - (offset2 * 2)
+			end
+		end
+		currentpos[axis] = currentpos[axis] + 1
+	end
+	return count
+end
+
 --copies the region defined by positions `pos1` and `pos2` along the `axis` axis ("x" or "y" or "z") by `amount` nodes, returning the number of nodes copied
 worldedit.copy = function(pos1, pos2, axis, amount)
 	local pos1, pos2 = worldedit.sort_pos(pos1, pos2)
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 5c37567..eae615b 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -12,14 +12,8 @@ dofile(minetest.get_modpath("worldedit") .. "/mark.lua")
 
 --determines whether `nodename` is a valid node name, returning a boolean
 worldedit.node_is_valid = function(temp_pos, nodename)
-	local originalnode = minetest.env:get_node(temp_pos) --save the original node to restore later
-	minetest.env:add_node(temp_pos, {name=nodename}) --attempt to add the node
-	local value = minetest.env:get_node(temp_pos).name --obtain the name of the newly added node
-	if value == nodename or value == "default:" .. nodename then --successfully added node
-		minetest.env:add_node(temp_pos, originalnode) --restore the original node
-		return true --node is valid
-	end
-	return false --node is not valid
+	return minetest.registered_nodes[nodename] ~= nil
+	or minetest.registered_nodes["default:" .. nodename] ~= nil
 end
 
 minetest.register_chatcommand("/reset", {
@@ -181,6 +175,58 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("/replace", {
 	end,
 })
 
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/hollowcylinder", {
+	params = "x/y/z <length> <radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add hollow cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.hollow_cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("/cylinder", {
+	params = "x/y/z <length> <radius> <node>",
+	description = "Add cylinder at WorldEdit position 1 along the x/y/z axis with length <length> and radius <radius>, composed of <node>",
+	privs = {worldedit=true},
+	func = function(name, param)
+		local pos = worldedit.pos1[name]
+		if pos == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "No WorldEdit region selected")
+			return
+		end
+
+		local found, _, axis, length, radius, nodename = param:find("^([xyz])%s+([+-]?%d+)%s+(%d+)%s+([^%s]+)$")
+		if found == nil then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid usage: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+		if not worldedit.node_is_valid(pos, nodename) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid node name: " .. param)
+			return
+		end
+
+		local count = worldedit.cylinder(pos, axis, tonumber(length), tonumber(radius), nodename)
+		minetest.chat_send_player(name, count .. " nodes added")
+	end,
+})
+
 minetest.register_chatcommand("/copy", {
 	params = "x/y/z <amount>",
 	description = "Copy the current WorldEdit region along the x/y/z axis by <amount> nodes",