diff --git a/src/actor.h b/src/actor.h
index dbb308258..3f7c1178e 100644
--- a/src/actor.h
+++ b/src/actor.h
@@ -755,6 +755,9 @@ public:
 	// What species am I?
 	virtual FName GetSpecies();
 
+	// set translation
+	void SetTranslation(const char *trname);
+
 	double GetBobOffset(double ticfrac = 0) const
 	{
 		if (!(flags2 & MF2_FLOATBOB))
diff --git a/src/p_acs.cpp b/src/p_acs.cpp
index 1b52f5a93..0a2ccddac 100644
--- a/src/p_acs.cpp
+++ b/src/p_acs.cpp
@@ -4379,10 +4379,11 @@ enum EACSFunctions
 	ACSF_CheckClass = 200,
 	ACSF_DamageActor, // [arookas]
 	ACSF_SetActorFlag,
+	ACSF_SetTranslation,
 
 	// ZDaemon
 	ACSF_GetTeamScore = 19620,	// (int team)
-	ACSF_SetTeamScore,			// (int team, int value)
+	ACSF_SetTeamScore,			// (int team, int value
 };
 
 int DLevelScript::SideFromID(int id, int side)
@@ -6002,6 +6003,26 @@ doplaysound:			if (funcIndex == ACSF_PlayActorSound)
 			return count;
 		}
 
+		case ACSF_SetTranslation:
+		{
+			int tid = args[0];
+			const char *trname = FBehavior::StaticLookupString(args[1]);
+			if (tid == 0)
+			{
+				if (activator != nullptr)
+					activator->SetTranslation(trname);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				FActorIterator it(tid);
+				while ((actor = it.Next()) != nullptr)
+				{
+					actor->SetTranslation(trname);
+				}
+			}
+			return 1;
+		}
+
 		default:
 			break;
 	}
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.cpp b/src/p_mobj.cpp
index e39a07b2d..496f52e86 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -6525,6 +6525,23 @@ int AActor::ApplyDamageFactor(FName damagetype, int damage) const
 }
 
 
+void AActor::SetTranslation(const char *trname)
+{
+	if (*trname == 0)
+	{
+		// an empty string resets to the default
+		Translation = GetDefault()->Translation;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	int tnum = R_FindCustomTranslation(trname);
+	if (tnum >= 0)
+	{
+		Translation = tnum;
+	}
+	// silently ignore if the name does not exist, this would create some insane message spam otherwise.
+}
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //
 // DropItem handling
diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_codeptr.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_codeptr.cpp
index ee64df4d0..3b4e6203e 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_codeptr.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_codeptr.cpp
@@ -7412,3 +7412,18 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_PARAMS(AActor, A_SetVisibleRotation)
 
 	ACTION_RETURN_BOOL(true);
 }
+
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_PARAMS(AActor, A_SetTranslation)
+{
+	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
+	PARAM_STRING(trname);
+
+	self->SetTranslation(trname);
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/actors/actor.txt b/wadsrc/static/actors/actor.txt
index 713e1497f..c82be96cd 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/actors/actor.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/actors/actor.txt
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ ACTOR Actor native //: Thinker
 	action native bool A_SetSpriteAngle(float angle = 0, int ptr = AAPTR_DEFAULT);
 	action native bool A_SetSpriteRotation(float angle = 0, int ptr = AAPTR_DEFAULT);
 	action native bool A_SetVisibleRotation(float anglestart = 0, float angleend = 0, float pitchstart = 0, float pitchend = 0, int flags = 0, int ptr = AAPTR_DEFAULT);
+	native void A_SetTranslation(string transname);
 
 	native void A_RearrangePointers(int newtarget, int newmaster = AAPTR_DEFAULT, int newtracer = AAPTR_DEFAULT, int flags=0);
 	native void A_TransferPointer(int ptr_source, int ptr_recepient, int sourcefield, int recepientfield=AAPTR_DEFAULT, int flags=0);