diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 8ade48b7b..0cc83bf69 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -2491,12 +2491,17 @@ This is basically a reference to a C++ `ServerActiveObject`
 * `set_eye_offset({x=0,y=0,z=0},{x=0,y=0,z=0})`: defines offset value for camera per player
     * in first person view
     * in third person view (max. values `{x=-10/10,y=-10,15,z=-5/5}`)
-* `get_nametag_color()`
-    * returns the color of the nametag as table
-    * { a = 0...255, r = 0...255, g = 0...255, b = 0...255 }
-* `set_nametag_color(color)`
-    * sets the color of the nametag
-    * `color`: { a = 0...255, r = 0...255, g = 0...255, b = 0...255 }
+* `get_nametag_attributes()`
+    * returns a table with the attributes of the nametag of the player
+    * {
+        color = { a = 0...255, r = 0...255, g = 0...255, b = 0...255 }
+      }
+* `set_nametag_attributes(attributes)`
+    * sets the attributes of the nametag of the player
+    * `attributes`:
+      {
+        color = { a = 0...255, r = 0...255, g = 0...255, b = 0...255 }
+      }
 
 ### `InvRef`
 An `InvRef` is a reference to an inventory.
diff --git a/src/content_cao.cpp b/src/content_cao.cpp
index 5bf4d8e9c..fe560a41a 100644
--- a/src/content_cao.cpp
+++ b/src/content_cao.cpp
@@ -1715,7 +1715,8 @@ void GenericCAO::processMessage(const std::string &data)
 			int rating = readS16(is);
 			m_armor_groups[name] = rating;
 		}
-	} else if (cmd == GENERIC_CMD_SET_NAMETAG_COLOR) {
+	} else if (cmd == GENERIC_CMD_UPDATE_NAMETAG_ATTRIBUTES) {
+		u8 version = readU8(is); // forward compatibility
 		m_nametag_color = readARGB8(is);
 		if (m_textnode != NULL) {
 			m_textnode->setTextColor(m_nametag_color);
diff --git a/src/content_sao.cpp b/src/content_sao.cpp
index c7f4b60c7..1f7323c9c 100644
--- a/src/content_sao.cpp
+++ b/src/content_sao.cpp
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ std::string PlayerSAO::getClientInitializationData(u16 protocol_version)
 		os<<serializeLongString(gob_cmd_update_physics_override(m_physics_override_speed,
 				m_physics_override_jump, m_physics_override_gravity, m_physics_override_sneak,
 				m_physics_override_sneak_glitch)); // 5
-		os << serializeLongString(gob_cmd_set_nametag_color(m_nametag_color)); // 6
+		os << serializeLongString(gob_cmd_update_nametag_attributes(m_nametag_color)); // 6
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ void PlayerSAO::step(float dtime, bool send_recommended)
 
 	if (m_nametag_sent == false) {
 		m_nametag_sent = true;
-		std::string str = gob_cmd_set_nametag_color(m_nametag_color);
+		std::string str = gob_cmd_update_nametag_attributes(m_nametag_color);
 		// create message and add to list
 		ActiveObjectMessage aom(getId(), true, str);
 		m_messages_out.push(aom);
diff --git a/src/genericobject.cpp b/src/genericobject.cpp
index 1f4f59e92..78dc7fa91 100644
--- a/src/genericobject.cpp
+++ b/src/genericobject.cpp
@@ -170,12 +170,13 @@ std::string gob_cmd_update_attachment(int parent_id, std::string bone, v3f posit
 	return os.str();
 }
 
-std::string gob_cmd_set_nametag_color(video::SColor color)
+std::string gob_cmd_update_nametag_attributes(video::SColor color)
 {
 	std::ostringstream os(std::ios::binary);
 	// command
-	writeU8(os, GENERIC_CMD_SET_NAMETAG_COLOR);
+	writeU8(os, GENERIC_CMD_UPDATE_NAMETAG_ATTRIBUTES);
 	// parameters
+	writeU8(os, 1); // version for forward compatibility
 	writeARGB8(os, color);
 	return os.str();
 }
diff --git a/src/genericobject.h b/src/genericobject.h
index 854950d27..2233e4ea0 100644
--- a/src/genericobject.h
+++ b/src/genericobject.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #define GENERIC_CMD_SET_BONE_POSITION 7
 #define GENERIC_CMD_SET_ATTACHMENT 8
 #define GENERIC_CMD_SET_PHYSICS_OVERRIDE 9
-#define GENERIC_CMD_SET_NAMETAG_COLOR 10
+#define GENERIC_CMD_UPDATE_NAMETAG_ATTRIBUTES 10
 
 #include "object_properties.h"
 std::string gob_cmd_set_properties(const ObjectProperties &prop);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ std::string gob_cmd_update_bone_position(std::string bone, v3f position, v3f rot
 
 std::string gob_cmd_update_attachment(int parent_id, std::string bone, v3f position, v3f rotation);
 
-std::string gob_cmd_set_nametag_color(video::SColor color);
+std::string gob_cmd_update_nametag_attributes(video::SColor color);
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
index c639a4834..845aab732 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
@@ -1274,8 +1274,8 @@ int ObjectRef::l_override_day_night_ratio(lua_State *L)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-// set_nametag_color(self, color)
-int ObjectRef::l_set_nametag_color(lua_State *L)
+// set_nametag_attributes(self, attributes)
+int ObjectRef::l_set_nametag_attributes(lua_State *L)
 {
 	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
 	ObjectRef *ref = checkobject(L, 1);
@@ -1283,17 +1283,18 @@ int ObjectRef::l_set_nametag_color(lua_State *L)
 	if (playersao == NULL)
 		return 0;
 
-	video::SColor color(255,255,255,255);
-	if (!lua_isnil(L, 2))
-		color = readARGB8(L, 2);
+	video::SColor color = playersao->getNametagColor();
+	lua_getfield(L, 2, "color");
+	if (!lua_isnil(L, -1))
+		color = readARGB8(L, -1);
 	playersao->setNametagColor(color);
 
 	lua_pushboolean(L, true);
 	return 1;
 }
 
-// get_nametag_color(self)
-int ObjectRef::l_get_nametag_color(lua_State *L)
+// get_nametag_attributes(self)
+int ObjectRef::l_get_nametag_attributes(lua_State *L)
 {
 	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
 	ObjectRef *ref = checkobject(L, 1);
@@ -1303,6 +1304,7 @@ int ObjectRef::l_get_nametag_color(lua_State *L)
 
 	video::SColor color = playersao->getNametagColor();
 
+	lua_newtable(L);
 	lua_newtable(L);
 	lua_pushnumber(L, color.getAlpha());
 	lua_setfield(L, -2, "a");
@@ -1312,6 +1314,7 @@ int ObjectRef::l_get_nametag_color(lua_State *L)
 	lua_setfield(L, -2, "g");
 	lua_pushnumber(L, color.getBlue());
 	lua_setfield(L, -2, "b");
+	lua_setfield(L, -2, "color");
 
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -1438,7 +1441,7 @@ const luaL_reg ObjectRef::methods[] = {
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, override_day_night_ratio),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, set_local_animation),
 	luamethod(ObjectRef, set_eye_offset),
-	luamethod(ObjectRef, set_nametag_color),
-	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_nametag_color),
+	luamethod(ObjectRef, set_nametag_attributes),
+	luamethod(ObjectRef, get_nametag_attributes),
 	{0,0}
 };
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
index 1f2931f29..af3ed5ef0 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.h
@@ -240,11 +240,11 @@ private:
 	// set_eye_offset(self, v3f first pv, v3f third pv)
 	static int l_set_eye_offset(lua_State *L);
 
-	// set_nametag_color(self, color)
-	static int l_set_nametag_color(lua_State *L);
+	// set_nametag_attributes(self, attributes)
+	static int l_set_nametag_attributes(lua_State *L);
 
-	// get_nametag_color(self)
-	static int l_get_nametag_color(lua_State *L);
+	// get_nametag_attributes(self)
+	static int l_get_nametag_attributes(lua_State *L);
 
 public:
 	ObjectRef(ServerActiveObject *object);