diff --git a/engine/server/sv_main.c b/engine/server/sv_main.c
index 6e190ff0e..48807fd3b 100644
--- a/engine/server/sv_main.c
+++ b/engine/server/sv_main.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ cvar_t	allow_download_sounds = {"allow_download_sounds", "1"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_demos = {"allow_download_demos", "1"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_maps = {"allow_download_maps", "1"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_anymap = {"allow_download_pakmaps", "0"};
+cvar_t	allow_download_pakcontents = {"allow_download_pakcontents", "1"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_root = {"allow_download_root", "0"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_textures = {"allow_download_textures", "1"};
 cvar_t	allow_download_pk3s = {"allow_download_pk3s", "1"};
@@ -3002,6 +3003,7 @@ void SV_InitLocal (void)
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_maps,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_demos,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_anymap,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
+	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_pakcontents,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_textures,cvargroup_serverpermissions);
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_pk3s,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
 	Cvar_Register (&allow_download_wads,	cvargroup_serverpermissions);
diff --git a/engine/server/sv_user.c b/engine/server/sv_user.c
index 50608b287..d50fb34b9 100644
--- a/engine/server/sv_user.c
+++ b/engine/server/sv_user.c
@@ -1588,7 +1588,7 @@ SV_BeginDownload_f
 void SV_BeginDownload_f(void)
 {
 	char	*name;
-	extern	cvar_t	allow_download_anymap;
+	extern	cvar_t	allow_download_anymap, allow_download_pakcontents;
 	extern	int		file_from_pak; // ZOID did file come from pak?
 
 
@@ -1638,7 +1638,7 @@ void SV_BeginDownload_f(void)
 	if (!host_client->download
 		// special check for maps, if it came from a pak file, don't allow
 		// download  ZOID
-		|| (!allow_download_anymap.value && strncmp(name, "maps/", 5) == 0 && file_from_pak))
+		|| ((!allow_download_pakcontents.value || (!allow_download_anymap.value && strncmp(name, "maps/", 5) == 0)) && file_from_pak))
 	{
 		if (host_client->download)
 		{