diff --git a/builtin/item.lua b/builtin/item.lua
index 9105d8c0..6a01f37f 100644
--- a/builtin/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/item.lua
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ minetest.nodedef_default = {
 	liquid_alternative_flowing = "",
 	liquid_alternative_source = "",
 	liquid_viscosity = 0,
+	drowning = 0,
 	light_source = 0,
 	damage_per_second = 0,
 	selection_box = {type="regular"},
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index d3458878..5247b248 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1991,7 +1991,7 @@ Node definition (register_node)
     freezemelt = "", -- water for snow/ice, ice/snow for water
     leveled = 0, -- Block contain level in param2. value - default level, used for snow. Dont forget use "leveled" type nodebox
     liquid_range = 8, -- number of flowing nodes arround source (max. 8)
-    drowning = true, -- Player will drown in these 
+    drowning = 0, -- Player will take this amount of damage if no bubbles are left
     two or more sources nearly?
     light_source = 0, -- Amount of light emitted by node
     damage_per_second = 0, -- If player is inside node, this damage is caused
diff --git a/games/minimal/mods/default/init.lua b/games/minimal/mods/default/init.lua
index 9f9db5ac..afde19b5 100644
--- a/games/minimal/mods/default/init.lua
+++ b/games/minimal/mods/default/init.lua
@@ -1001,6 +1001,7 @@ minetest.register_node("default:water_flowing", {
 	pointable = false,
 	diggable = false,
 	buildable_to = true,
+	drowning = 1,
 	liquidtype = "flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_flowing = "default:water_flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_source = "default:water_source",
@@ -1024,6 +1025,7 @@ minetest.register_node("default:water_source", {
 	pointable = false,
 	diggable = false,
 	buildable_to = true,
+	drowning = 1,
 	liquidtype = "source",
 	liquid_alternative_flowing = "default:water_flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_source = "default:water_source",
@@ -1055,6 +1057,7 @@ minetest.register_node("default:lava_flowing", {
 	pointable = false,
 	diggable = false,
 	buildable_to = true,
+	drowning = 1,
 	liquidtype = "flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_flowing = "default:lava_flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_source = "default:lava_source",
@@ -1082,6 +1085,7 @@ minetest.register_node("default:lava_source", {
 	pointable = false,
 	diggable = false,
 	buildable_to = true,
+	drowning = 1,
 	liquidtype = "source",
 	liquid_alternative_flowing = "default:lava_flowing",
 	liquid_alternative_source = "default:lava_source",
diff --git a/src/environment.cpp b/src/environment.cpp
index 40dba9a6..76a8aab5 100644
--- a/src/environment.cpp
+++ b/src/environment.cpp
@@ -2243,7 +2243,8 @@ void ClientEnvironment::step(float dtime)
 		v3s16 p = floatToInt(pf + v3f(0, BS*1.6, 0), BS);
 		MapNode n = m_map->getNodeNoEx(p);
 		ContentFeatures c = m_gamedef->ndef()->get(n);
-		if(c.isLiquid() && c.drowning && lplayer->hp > 0){
+		u8 drowning_damage = c.drowning;
+		if(drowning_damage > 0 && lplayer->hp > 0){
 			u16 breath = lplayer->getBreath();
 			if(breath > 10){
 				breath = 11;
@@ -2255,8 +2256,8 @@ void ClientEnvironment::step(float dtime)
 			updateLocalPlayerBreath(breath);
 		}
 
-		if(lplayer->getBreath() == 0){
-			damageLocalPlayer(1, true);
+		if(lplayer->getBreath() == 0 && drowning_damage > 0){
+			damageLocalPlayer(drowning_damage, true);
 		}
 	}
 	if(m_breathing_interval.step(dtime, 0.5))
@@ -2270,7 +2271,7 @@ void ClientEnvironment::step(float dtime)
 		if (!lplayer->hp){
 			lplayer->setBreath(11);
 		}
-		else if(!c.isLiquid() || !c.drowning){
+		else if(c.drowning == 0){
 			u16 breath = lplayer->getBreath();
 			if(breath <= 10){
 				breath += 1;
diff --git a/src/nodedef.cpp b/src/nodedef.cpp
index 53e4d63f..41956ca2 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.cpp
+++ b/src/nodedef.cpp
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ void ContentFeatures::reset()
 	liquid_renewable = true;
 	freezemelt = "";
 	liquid_range = LIQUID_LEVEL_MAX+1;
-	drowning = true;
+	drowning = 0;
 	light_source = 0;
 	damage_per_second = 0;
 	node_box = NodeBox();
diff --git a/src/nodedef.h b/src/nodedef.h
index 714e1ba2..c0322d91 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.h
+++ b/src/nodedef.h
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ struct ContentFeatures
 	std::string freezemelt;
 	// Number of flowing liquids surrounding source
 	u8 liquid_range;
-	bool drowning;
+	u8 drowning;
 	// Amount of light the node emits
 	u8 light_source;
 	u32 damage_per_second;
diff --git a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
index ef054440..f9765b65 100644
--- a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
+++ b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
@@ -400,7 +400,8 @@ ContentFeatures read_content_features(lua_State *L, int index)
 
 	getboolfield(L, index, "liquid_renewable", f.liquid_renewable);
 	getstringfield(L, index, "freezemelt", f.freezemelt);
-	getboolfield(L, index, "drowning", f.drowning);
+	f.drowning = getintfield_default(L, index,
+			"drowning", f.drowning);
 	// Amount of light the node emits
 	f.light_source = getintfield_default(L, index,
 			"light_source", f.light_source);