diff --git a/builtin/item.lua b/builtin/item.lua
index c4bd24204..3d545eece 100644
--- a/builtin/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/item.lua
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ function minetest.node_dig(pos, node, digger)
 	minetest.debug("node_dig")
 
 	local def = ItemStack({name=node.name}):get_definition()
-	if not def.diggable then
+	if not def.diggable or (def.can_dig and not def.can_dig(pos,digger)) then
 		minetest.debug("not diggable")
 		minetest.log("info", digger:get_player_name() .. " tried to dig "
 			.. node.name .. " which is not diggable "
@@ -345,6 +345,7 @@ minetest.nodedef_default = {
 	on_place = redef_wrapper(minetest, 'item_place'), -- minetest.item_place
 	on_drop = redef_wrapper(minetest, 'item_drop'), -- minetest.item_drop
 	on_use = nil,
+	can_dig = nil,
 
 	on_punch = redef_wrapper(minetest, 'node_punch'), -- minetest.node_punch
 	on_dig = redef_wrapper(minetest, 'node_dig'), -- minetest.node_dig
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 4321bf76e..3f640da4c 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1149,6 +1149,9 @@ Node definition (register_node)
     ^ Called after destructing node when node was dug using
       minetest.node_dig
     ^ default: nil
+    can_dig = function(pos,player)
+    ^ returns true if node can be dug, or false if not
+    ^ default: nil
 	
     on_punch = func(pos, node, puncher),
     ^ default: minetest.node_punch