diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8bf11f8..ee89213 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ That said, there are some basic text formatting options:
 
 * Pointing at an X or Z side of something that's detected as a pole/post will mount the sign onto that pole.  Note that the sign actually occupies the node space in front of the pole, since they're still separate nodes.  But, I figure, no one's going to want to use the space in front of the sign anyway, because doing so would of course obscure the sign, so it doesn't matter if the sign logically occupies that node space.
 
+* If you're holding "Sneak" (usually shift) while placing, the on-pole/hanging/yard checks are skipped, allowing you to just place a sign flat onto the ground, ceiling, or top/bottom of a pole/post, like they used to work before `signs_lib` was a thing.
+
 * If a sign is on the wall or flat on the ground, the screwdriver will spin it from one wall to the next, in clockwise order, whether there's a wall to attach to or not, followed by putting it flat on the ground, then flat against the ceiling, then back to wall orientation.
 
 * If a sign is hanging from the ceiling (not flat against it), the screwdriver will just rotate it around its Y axis.
diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index 2a73977..5de10e5 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -815,6 +815,9 @@ end
 
 function signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, locked)
 	local playername = placer:get_player_name()
+
+	local controls = placer:get_player_control()
+
 	local signname = itemstack:get_name()
 	local no_wall_name = string.gsub(signname, "_wall", "")
 
@@ -824,7 +827,7 @@ function signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, locke
 	local pnode = minetest.get_node(ppos)
 	local pdef = minetest.registered_items[pnode.name]
 
-	if def.allow_onpole and signs_lib.check_for_pole(pos, pointed_thing) then
+	if def.allow_onpole and signs_lib.check_for_pole(pos, pointed_thing) and not controls.sneak then
 		local newparam2
 		local lookdir = minetest.yaw_to_dir(placer:get_look_horizontal())
 		if def.paramtype2 == "wallmounted" then
@@ -834,7 +837,7 @@ function signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, locke
 		end
 		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = no_wall_name.."_onpole", param2 = newparam2})
-	elseif def.allow_onpole_horizontal and signs_lib.check_for_horizontal_pole(pos, pointed_thing) then
+	elseif def.allow_onpole_horizontal and signs_lib.check_for_horizontal_pole(pos, pointed_thing) and not controls.sneak then
 		local newparam2
 		local lookdir = minetest.yaw_to_dir(placer:get_look_horizontal())
 		if def.paramtype2 == "wallmounted" then
@@ -844,12 +847,12 @@ function signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, locke
 		end
 		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = no_wall_name.."_onpole_horiz", param2 = newparam2})
-	elseif def.allow_hanging and signs_lib.check_for_ceiling(pointed_thing) then
+	elseif def.allow_hanging and signs_lib.check_for_ceiling(pointed_thing) and not controls.sneak then
 		local newparam2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(placer:get_look_dir())
 		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = no_wall_name.."_hanging", param2 = newparam2})
-	elseif def.allow_yard and signs_lib.check_for_floor(pointed_thing) then
- 		local newparam2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(placer:get_look_dir())
+	elseif def.allow_yard and signs_lib.check_for_floor(pointed_thing) and not controls.sneak then
+		local newparam2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(placer:get_look_dir())
 		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = no_wall_name.."_yard", param2 = newparam2})
 	elseif def.paramtype2 == "facedir" and signs_lib.check_for_ceiling(pointed_thing) then
@@ -857,6 +860,7 @@ function signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, locke
 	elseif def.paramtype2 == "facedir" and signs_lib.check_for_floor(pointed_thing) then
 		minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = signname, param2 = 4})
 	end
+
 	if locked then
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
 		meta:set_string("owner", playername)