diff --git a/api/register_machine.lua b/api/register_machine.lua
index b4ca658..1108ffb 100644
--- a/api/register_machine.lua
+++ b/api/register_machine.lua
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ function api.register_machine(name, def)
 		is_ground_content = false,
 		groups = def.groups,
 		sounds = def.sounds,
+		drop = def.drop,
 
 		after_place_node = function(pos, placer, itemstack)
 			local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
diff --git a/modules/anvil/anvil.lua b/modules/anvil/anvil.lua
index fca2e8b..b1ccb08 100644
--- a/modules/anvil/anvil.lua
+++ b/modules/anvil/anvil.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ local FS = function(...)
 	return F(S(...))
 end
 local anvil = cottages.anvil
+local ci = cottages.craftitems
 
 local add_entity = minetest.add_entity
 local get_node = minetest.get_node
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ local hud_timeout = cottages.settings.anvil.hud_timeout
 local stamina_use = cottages.settings.anvil.stamina
 local tool_entity_enabled = cottages.settings.anvil.tool_entity_enabled
 local tool_entity_displacement = cottages.settings.anvil.tool_entity_displacement
+local destroy_when_dug = cottages.settings.anvil.destroy_when_dug
 
 local hud_info_by_puncher_name = {}
 
@@ -444,6 +446,18 @@ function anvil.preserve_metadata(pos, oldnode, oldmeta, drops)
 	return drops
 end
 
+local drop
+
+if destroy_when_dug then
+	drop = {
+		items = {
+			{
+				items = { ci.steel .. " 7" },
+			},
+		},
+	}
+end
+
 cottages.api.register_machine("cottages:anvil", {
 	description = S("anvil"),
 	drawtype = "nodebox",
@@ -460,6 +474,7 @@ cottages.api.register_machine("cottages:anvil", {
 	tiles = { "cottages_stone.png^[colorize:#000:192" },
 	groups = { cracky = 2 },
 	sounds = cottages.sounds.metal,
+	drop = drop,
 
 	inv_info = {
 		input = 1,
diff --git a/modules/anvil/crafts.lua b/modules/anvil/crafts.lua
index ce3c6d1..4cf1e98 100644
--- a/modules/anvil/crafts.lua
+++ b/modules/anvil/crafts.lua
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 local S = cottages.S
 local ci = cottages.craftitems
 
-if ci.steel then
+if ci.steelblock then
 	minetest.register_craft({
 		output = "cottages:anvil",
 		recipe = {
-			{ ci.steel, ci.steel, ci.steel },
-			{ "", ci.steel, "" },
-			{ ci.steel, ci.steel, ci.steel },
+			{ ci.steelblock, ci.steelblock, ci.steelblock },
+			{ "", ci.steelblock, "" },
+			{ ci.steelblock, ci.steelblock, ci.steelblock },
 		},
 	})
+end
 
+if ci.steel then
 	minetest.register_craft({
 		output = "cottages:hammer",
 		recipe = {
diff --git a/resources/craftitems.lua b/resources/craftitems.lua
index fc293af..8c49475 100644
--- a/resources/craftitems.lua
+++ b/resources/craftitems.lua
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ if has.default then
 	ci.rail = resolve_item("default:rail")
 	ci.sand = resolve_item("default:sand")
 	ci.steel = resolve_item("default:steel_ingot")
+	ci.steelblock = resolve_item("default:steelblock")
 	ci.stone = resolve_item("default:stone")
 end
 
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index cc0f7e4..4508a23 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ cottages.anvil.tool_entity_enabled (tool entity enabled) bool false
 # how far above the anvil to put the entity
 cottages.anvil.tool_entity_displacement (tool entity displacement) float .125
 
+# if true, the anvil is destroyed when dug, though it does drop some iron.
+cottages.anvil.destroy_when_dug (destroy anvil when dug) bool true
+
 ###############################################################################
 
 # provides a barrel which can be used to store liquids, and a couple decorative variants.