diff --git a/src/content_nodemeta.h b/src/content_nodemeta.h
index af3374124..e20334312 100644
--- a/src/content_nodemeta.h
+++ b/src/content_nodemeta.h
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ public:
 	virtual bool nodeRemovalDisabled();
 	virtual std::string getInventoryDrawSpecString();
 
-	std::string getOwner(){ return m_text; }
-	void setOwner(std::string t){ m_text = t; }
+	virtual std::string getOwner(){ return m_text; }
+	virtual void setOwner(std::string t){ m_text = t; }
 
 private:
 	Inventory *m_inventory;
diff --git a/src/map.cpp b/src/map.cpp
index a8e7235cf..32675f08d 100644
--- a/src/map.cpp
+++ b/src/map.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "porting.h"
 #include "mapgen.h"
 #include "nodemetadata.h"
-#include "content_nodemeta.h"
-#include "content_mapnode.h"
 
 /*
 	SQLite format specification:
@@ -1016,20 +1014,9 @@ void Map::addNodeAndUpdate(v3s16 p, MapNode n,
 	if(meta_proto)
 	{
 		NodeMetadata *meta = meta_proto->clone();
-		/* lockable chest, insert the owner's name */
-		if (meta->typeId() == CONTENT_LOCKABLE_CHEST)
-		{
-			LockingChestNodeMetadata *lcm = (LockingChestNodeMetadata*)meta;
-			lcm->setOwner(player_name);
-		}
+		meta->setOwner(player_name);
 		setNodeMetadata(p, meta);
 	}
-	else if (n.getContent() == CONTENT_LOCKABLE_CHEST)
-	{
-		LockingChestNodeMetadata *lcm =  new LockingChestNodeMetadata();
-		lcm->setOwner(player_name);
-		setNodeMetadata(p, (NodeMetadata*)lcm);
-	}
 
 	/*
 		If node is under sunlight and doesn't let sunlight through,
diff --git a/src/nodemetadata.h b/src/nodemetadata.h
index de682f9b6..d81ade96c 100644
--- a/src/nodemetadata.h
+++ b/src/nodemetadata.h
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ public:
 	// Used to make custom inventory menus.
 	// See format in guiInventoryMenu.cpp.
 	virtual std::string getInventoryDrawSpecString(){return "";}
+	// primarily used for locking chests, but others can play too
+	virtual std::string getOwner(){ return std::string(""); }
+	virtual void setOwner(std::string t){  }
 
 protected:
 	static void registerType(u16 id, Factory f);