diff --git a/rope.lua b/rope.lua
index d8255b0..3ef95ab 100644
--- a/rope.lua
+++ b/rope.lua
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ minetest.register_on_punchnode(function(pos, oldnode, digger)
 	end
 end)
 
-function rope.place(itemstack, _, pointed_thing)
+function rope.place(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 	if pointed_thing.type == "node" then
 		local under = pointed_thing.under
 		local above = pointed_thing.above
 		local pos = above
 		local oldnode = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		local stackname = itemstack:get_name()
+		if minetest.is_protected(pos, placer:get_player_name()) then return end
 
 		while oldnode.name == "air" and not itemstack:is_empty() do
 			local newnode = {name = stackname, param1 = 0}