diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/ISettings.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/ISettings.java
index 91c98b71fb7..c353ffbc792 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/ISettings.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/ISettings.java
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ public interface ISettings extends IConf {
 
     boolean cancelAfkOnInteract();
 
+    boolean sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers();
+
     boolean isAfkListName();
 
     String getAfkListName();
diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
index 2c069c825fc..79623f75020 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ public void reloadConfig() {
         cancelAfkOnInteract = _cancelAfkOnInteract();
         cancelAfkOnMove = _cancelAfkOnMove();
         getFreezeAfkPlayers = _getFreezeAfkPlayers();
+        sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers = _sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers();
         afkListName = _getAfkListName();
         isAfkListName = !afkListName.equalsIgnoreCase("none");
         itemSpawnBl = _getItemSpawnBlacklist();
@@ -893,6 +894,17 @@ private boolean _cancelAfkOnInteract() {
         return config.getBoolean("cancel-afk-on-interact", true);
     }
 
+    private boolean sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers;
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers() {
+        return sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers;
+    }
+
+    private boolean _sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers() {
+        return config.getBoolean("sleep-ignores-afk-players", true);
+    }
+
     private String afkListName;
     private boolean isAfkListName;
 
diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/User.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/User.java
index f1e2d491145..07ce643a223 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/User.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/User.java
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ public void setAfk(final boolean set) {
             return;
         }
 
-        this.getBase().setSleepingIgnored(this.isAuthorized("essentials.sleepingignored") ? true : set);
+        this.getBase().setSleepingIgnored(this.isAuthorized("essentials.sleepingignored") || set && ess.getSettings().sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers());
         if (set && !isAfk()) {
             afkPosition = this.getLocation();
             this.afkSince = System.currentTimeMillis();
diff --git a/Essentials/src/config.yml b/Essentials/src/config.yml
index c28cc5fbdd9..2dc9606aa1f 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/config.yml
+++ b/Essentials/src/config.yml
@@ -405,6 +405,11 @@ cancel-afk-on-interact: true
 # Disable this to reduce server lag.
 cancel-afk-on-move: true
 
+# Should AFK players be ignored when other players are trying to sleep?
+# When this setting is false, players won't be able to skip the night if some players are AFK.
+# Users with the permission node essentials.sleepingignored will always be ignored.
+sleep-ignores-afk-players: true
+
 # Set the player's list name when they are AFK. This is none by default which specifies that Essentials 
 # should not interfere with the AFK player's list name.
 # You may use color codes, use {USERNAME} the player's name or {PLAYER} for the player's displayname.