diff --git a/config.lua b/config.lua
index f29e46e..99f655d 100644
--- a/config.lua
+++ b/config.lua
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ markers.EXPIRE_AFTER = 60*60*24;
 markers.MAX_HEIGHT   = 100;
 
 -- only areas up to this size (in square meters) can be protected
-markers.MAX_SIZE     = 1024; -- 32m * 32m = 1024 m^2
+markers.MAX_SIZE     = 4096; -- 64m * 64m= 4096 m^2
 
 -- show only areas withhin this range when showing the list of ALL areas
 -- (else it does get too crowded on multiplayer servers)
@@ -30,7 +30,18 @@ end
 -- for most cases, the default values ought to work
 --markers.AREA_RANGE   = 100000;
 
-if( io.open(minetest.get_worldpath().."/markers_settings.txt","r")) then
-	io.close()
-	dofile(minetest.get_worldpath().."/markers_settings.txt")
+local settings = Settings( minetest.get_worldpath().."/markers_settings.txt");
+if( settings ) then
+	if( settings:get( "markers_MAX_MARKERS" )) then
+		markers.MAX_MARKERS  = tonumber(settings:get( "markers_MAX_MARKERS"));
+	end
+	if( settings:get( "markers_EXPIRE_AFTER" )) then
+		markers.EXPIRE_AFTER = tonumber(settings:get( "markers_EXPIRE_AFTER"));
+	end
+	if( settings:get( "markers_MAX_HEIGHT" )) then
+		markers.MAX_HEIGHT   = tonumber(settings:get( "markers_MAX_HEIGHT"));
+	end
+	if( settings:get( "markers_MAX_SIZE" )) then
+		markers.MAX_SIZE     = tonumber(settings:get( "markers_MAX_SIZE"));
+	end
 end
diff --git a/markers_settings.txt b/markers_settings.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a292111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/markers_settings.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# copy this to your worldpath if you want to override these values
+
+# store the positions of that many markers for each player (until server restart)
+# default: 50
+markers_MAX_MARKERS = 50
+
+# the protection against digging of the marker by other players expires after this time
+# default: 60*60*24 (1 day)
+markers_EXPIRE_AFTER = 86400
+
+
+# self-protected areas can not get higher than this
+# default: 100
+markers_MAX_HEIGHT = 100
+
+
+# only areas up to this size (in square meters) can be protected
+# default: 4096
+markers_MAX_SIZE = 4096