diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 0b12652f1..bd85f0da5 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1903,10 +1903,12 @@ and `minetest.auth_reload` call the authetification handler.
     * Sets the noiseparams setting of `name` to the noiseparams table specified in `noiseparams`.
     * `set_default` is an optional boolean (default: `true`) that specifies whether the setting
       should be applied to the default config or current active config
-* `minetest.generate_ores(vm, p1, p2)`
-   * Generate all registered ores within the VoxelManip `vm` and in the area from p1 to p2.
-* `minetest.generate_decorations(vm, p1, p2)`
-   * Generate all registered decorations within the VoxelManip `vm` and in the area from p1 to p2.
+* `minetest.generate_ores(vm, pos1, pos2)`
+    * Generate all registered ores within the VoxelManip `vm` and in the area from `pos1` to `pos2`.
+    * `pos1` and `pos2` are optional and default to mapchunk minp and maxp.
+* `minetest.generate_decorations(vm, pos1, pos2)`
+    * Generate all registered decorations within the VoxelManip `vm` and in the area from `pos1` to `pos2`.
+    * `pos1` and `pos2` are optional and default to mapchunk minp and maxp.
 * `minetest.clear_objects()`
     * clear all objects in the environments
 * `minetest.delete_area(pos1, pos2)`
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_mapgen.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_mapgen.cpp
index 8806581de..172f2b5cc 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_mapgen.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_mapgen.cpp
@@ -801,10 +801,13 @@ int ModApiMapgen::l_generate_ores(lua_State *L)
 	mg.vm   = LuaVoxelManip::checkobject(L, 1)->vm;
 	mg.ndef = getServer(L)->getNodeDefManager();
 
-	u32 blockseed = Mapgen::getBlockSeed(mg.vm->m_area.MinEdge, mg.seed);
+	v3s16 pmin = lua_istable(L, 2) ? read_v3s16(L, 2) :
+			mg.vm->m_area.MinEdge + v3s16(1,1,1) * MAP_BLOCKSIZE;
+	v3s16 pmax = lua_istable(L, 3) ? read_v3s16(L, 3) :
+			mg.vm->m_area.MaxEdge - v3s16(1,1,1) * MAP_BLOCKSIZE;
+	sortBoxVerticies(pmin, pmax);
 
-	v3s16 pmin = read_v3s16(L, 2);
-	v3s16 pmax = read_v3s16(L, 3);
+	u32 blockseed = Mapgen::getBlockSeed(pmin, mg.seed);
 
 	emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(&mg, blockseed, pmin, pmax);
 
@@ -821,10 +824,13 @@ int ModApiMapgen::l_generate_decorations(lua_State *L)
 	mg.vm   = LuaVoxelManip::checkobject(L, 1)->vm;
 	mg.ndef = getServer(L)->getNodeDefManager();
 
-	u32 blockseed = Mapgen::getBlockSeed(mg.vm->m_area.MinEdge, mg.seed);
+	v3s16 pmin = lua_istable(L, 2) ? read_v3s16(L, 2) :
+			mg.vm->m_area.MinEdge + v3s16(1,1,1) * MAP_BLOCKSIZE;
+	v3s16 pmax = lua_istable(L, 3) ? read_v3s16(L, 3) :
+			mg.vm->m_area.MaxEdge - v3s16(1,1,1) * MAP_BLOCKSIZE;
+	sortBoxVerticies(pmin, pmax);
 
-	v3s16 pmin = read_v3s16(L, 2);
-	v3s16 pmax = read_v3s16(L, 3);
+	u32 blockseed = Mapgen::getBlockSeed(pmin, mg.seed);
 
 	emerge->decomgr->placeAllDecos(&mg, blockseed, pmin, pmax);