diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 599e02fcb..1550a78be 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -2280,9 +2280,11 @@ and `minetest.auth_reload` call the authetification handler.
 * `minetest.get_gametime()`: returns the time, in seconds, since the world was created
 * `minetest.get_day_count()`: returns number days elapsed since world was created,
     * accounting for time changes.
-* `minetest.find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames)`: returns pos or `nil`
+* `minetest.find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames, [search_center])`: returns pos or `nil`
     * `radius`: using a maximum metric
     * `nodenames`: e.g. `{"ignore", "group:tree"}` or `"default:dirt"`
+    * `search_center` is an optional boolean (default: `false`)
+      If true `pos` is also checked for the nodes
 * `minetest.find_nodes_in_area(minp, maxp, nodenames)`: returns a list of positions
     * returns as second value a table with the count of the individual nodes found
     * `nodenames`: e.g. `{"ignore", "group:tree"}` or `"default:dirt"`
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
index 85791f90b..0ded12658 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.cpp
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ int ModApiEnvMod::l_get_gametime(lua_State *L)
 }
 
 
-// find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames) -> pos or nil
+// find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames, search_center) -> pos or nil
 // nodenames: eg. {"ignore", "group:tree"} or "default:dirt"
 int ModApiEnvMod::l_find_node_near(lua_State *L)
 {
@@ -612,27 +612,27 @@ int ModApiEnvMod::l_find_node_near(lua_State *L)
 	v3s16 pos = read_v3s16(L, 1);
 	int radius = luaL_checkinteger(L, 2);
 	std::set<content_t> filter;
-	if(lua_istable(L, 3)){
-		int table = 3;
+	if (lua_istable(L, 3)) {
 		lua_pushnil(L);
-		while(lua_next(L, table) != 0){
+		while (lua_next(L, 3) != 0) {
 			// key at index -2 and value at index -1
 			luaL_checktype(L, -1, LUA_TSTRING);
 			ndef->getIds(lua_tostring(L, -1), filter);
 			// removes value, keeps key for next iteration
 			lua_pop(L, 1);
 		}
-	} else if(lua_isstring(L, 3)){
+	} else if (lua_isstring(L, 3)) {
 		ndef->getIds(lua_tostring(L, 3), filter);
 	}
 
-	for (int d=1; d<=radius; d++){
+	int start_radius = (lua_toboolean(L, 4)) ? 0 : 1;
+	for (int d = start_radius; d <= radius; d++) {
 		std::vector<v3s16> list = FacePositionCache::getFacePositions(d);
 		for (std::vector<v3s16>::iterator i = list.begin();
-				i != list.end(); ++i){
+				i != list.end(); ++i) {
 			v3s16 p = pos + (*i);
 			content_t c = env->getMap().getNodeNoEx(p).getContent();
-			if (filter.count(c) != 0){
+			if (filter.count(c) != 0) {
 				push_v3s16(L, p);
 				return 1;
 			}
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
index 3f688b398..629c6bc39 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_env.h
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ private:
 	// get_day_count() -> int
 	static int l_get_day_count(lua_State *L);
 
-	// find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames) -> pos or nil
+	// find_node_near(pos, radius, nodenames, search_center) -> pos or nil
 	// nodenames: eg. {"ignore", "group:tree"} or "default:dirt"
 	static int l_find_node_near(lua_State *L);