diff --git a/src/d_clisrv.c b/src/d_clisrv.c
index 9e1749b3..53a24056 100644
--- a/src/d_clisrv.c
+++ b/src/d_clisrv.c
@@ -6198,6 +6198,9 @@ FILESTAMP
 	SV_FileSendTicker();
 }
 
+// If a tree falls in the forest but nobody is around to hear it, does it make a tic?
+//#define DEDICATEDIDLETIME (10*TICRATE)
+
 void NetUpdate(void)
 {
 	static tic_t resptime = 0;
@@ -6210,6 +6213,55 @@ void NetUpdate(void)
 
 	if (realtics <= 0) // nothing new to update
 		return;
+
+#ifdef DEDICATEDIDLETIME
+	if (server && dedicated && gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+	{
+		static tic_t dedicatedidle = 0;
+
+		for (i = 1; i < MAXNETNODES; ++i)
+			if (nodeingame[i])
+			{
+				if (dedicatedidle == DEDICATEDIDLETIME)
+				{
+					CONS_Printf("DEDICATED: Awakening from idle (Node %d detected...)\n", i);
+					dedicatedidle = 0;
+				}
+				break;
+			}
+
+		if (i == MAXNETNODES)
+		{
+			if (leveltime == 2)
+			{
+				// On next tick...
+				dedicatedidle = DEDICATEDIDLETIME-1;
+			}
+			else if (dedicatedidle == DEDICATEDIDLETIME)
+			{
+				if (D_GetExistingTextcmd(gametic, 0) || D_GetExistingTextcmd(gametic+1, 0))
+				{
+					CONS_Printf("DEDICATED: Awakening from idle (Netxcmd detected...)\n");
+					dedicatedidle = 0;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					realtics = 0;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (++dedicatedidle == DEDICATEDIDLETIME)
+			{
+				char *idlereason = "at round start";
+				if (leveltime > 3)
+					idlereason = va("for %d seconds", dedicatedidle/TICRATE);
+
+				CONS_Printf("DEDICATED: No nodes %s, idling...\n", idlereason);
+				realtics = 0;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+#endif
+
 	if (realtics > 5)
 	{
 		if (server)