diff --git a/TODO.txt b/TODO.txt
index c39760f..a05f351 100644
--- a/TODO.txt
+++ b/TODO.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 
 TODO:
-- check for nearbly players before spawning
 - add lifetime limit
diff --git a/settings.lua b/settings.lua
index 87ba5e3..ee6f413 100644
--- a/settings.lua
+++ b/settings.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,18 @@
 
 local time_min = 60
 
+--- Determines whether or not a player must be close for spawn to occur.
+--
+--  @setting sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby
+sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby = core.settings:get_bool("sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby", true)
+
+--- Distance in nodes a player must be for spawn to occur.
+--
+--  Only used if `sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby` enabled.
+--
+--  @setting sneeker.spawn_player_radius
+sneeker.spawn_player_radius = tonumber(core.settings:get("sneeker.spawn_player_radius") or 100)
+
 --- Sets possibility for spawn.
 --
 --  Inverted value (e.g. 10000 = 1/10000).
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 113397b..3f95686 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 # Extra debugging messages.
 enable_debug_mods (Mod debugging) bool false
 
+# Determines whether or not a player must be close for spawn to occur.
+sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby (Require player nearby) bool true
+
+# Distance in nodes a player must be for spawn to occur.
+#
+# Only used if `sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby` enabled.
+sneeker.spawn_player_radius (Player detect radius) int 100
+
 # Sets possibility for spawn.
 #
 # Rate is the inverted value (e.g. 1/value).
diff --git a/spawn.lua b/spawn.lua
index 099c59d..65803cb 100644
--- a/spawn.lua
+++ b/spawn.lua
@@ -28,6 +28,22 @@ core.register_abm({
 		-- check above target node
 		pos.y = pos.y+1
 
+		local pos_string = tostring(math.floor(pos.x))
+			.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.y))
+			.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.z))
+
+		if sneeker.spawn_require_player_nearby then
+			local player_nearby = false
+			for _, entity in ipairs(core.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, sneeker.spawn_player_radius)) do
+				if entity:is_player() then
+					player_nearby = true
+					break
+				end
+			end
+
+			if not player_nearby then return end
+		end
+
 		if pos.y > sneeker.spawn_maxheight or pos.y < sneeker.spawn_minheight then
 			return
 		end
@@ -46,15 +62,9 @@ core.register_abm({
 
 		local spawned = core.add_entity(pos, "sneeker:sneeker")
 		if not spawned then
-			sneeker.log("warning", "Failed to spawn at: "
-				.. tostring(math.floor(pos.x))
-				.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.y))
-				.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.z)))
+			sneeker.log("warning", "Failed to spawn at: " .. pos_string)
 		else
-			sneeker.log("debug", "Spawned at: "
-				.. tostring(math.floor(pos.x))
-				.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.y))
-				.. "," .. tostring(math.floor(pos.z)))
+			sneeker.log("debug", "Spawned at: " .. pos_string)
 		end
 	end
 })