diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index bb376132c..b4e256d4d 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -354,6 +354,8 @@ consvar_t cv_sharedstarposts = {"sharedstarposts", "On", CV_NETVAR, CV_OnOff, NU
 static CV_PossibleValue_t respawntype_cons_t[] = {{0, "Request"}, {1, "Starpost"}, {0, NULL}};
 consvar_t cv_respawntype = {"respawntype", "Starpost", CV_NETVAR|CV_CHEAT, respawntype_cons_t, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 
+consvar_t cv_steallives = {"steallives", "On", CV_NETVAR, CV_OnOff, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
+
 static CV_PossibleValue_t advancemap_cons_t[] = {{0, "Off"}, {1, "Next"}, {2, "Random"}, {0, NULL}};
 consvar_t cv_advancemap = {"advancemap", "Next", CV_NETVAR, advancemap_cons_t, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 static CV_PossibleValue_t playersforexit_cons_t[] = {{0, "One"}, {1, "All"}, {0, NULL}};
@@ -505,8 +507,6 @@ void D_RegisterServerCommands(void)
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_hidetime);
 
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_inttime);
-	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_sharedstarposts);
-	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_respawntype);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_advancemap);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_playersforexit);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_timelimit);
@@ -514,6 +514,10 @@ void D_RegisterServerCommands(void)
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_forceskin);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_downloading);
 
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_sharedstarposts);
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_respawntype);
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_steallives);
+
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_specialrings);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_powerstones);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_competitionboxes);
diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.h b/src/d_netcmd.h
index 8f9717840..0695d503d 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.h
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.h
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ extern consvar_t cv_recycler;
 
 extern consvar_t cv_itemfinder;
 
-extern consvar_t cv_inttime, cv_sharedstarposts, cv_respawntype, cv_advancemap, cv_playersforexit;
+extern consvar_t cv_inttime, cv_sharedstarposts, cv_respawntype, cv_steallives, cv_advancemap, cv_playersforexit;
 extern consvar_t cv_overtime;
 extern consvar_t cv_startinglives;
 
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index 93a33e984..cf3f29993 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ void P_TouchSpecialThing(mobj_t *special, mobj_t *toucher, boolean heightcheck)
 						players[i].starpostangle = special->angle;
 						players[i].starpostnum = special->health;
 
-						if (cv_respawntype.value == 1 && players[i].lives > 0 && players[i].playerstate == PST_DEAD)
+						if (cv_respawntype.value == 1 && (P_GetLives(&players[i]) || players[i].lives > 0) && players[i].playerstate == PST_DEAD)
 							players[i].playerstate = PST_REBORN;
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/src/p_local.h b/src/p_local.h
index a2831222a..117eaee1d 100644
--- a/src/p_local.h
+++ b/src/p_local.h
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ void P_PlayLivesJingle(player_t *player);
 #define P_PlayDeathSound(s)		S_StartSound(s, sfx_altdi1 + P_RandomKey(4));
 #define P_PlayVictorySound(s)	S_StartSound(s, sfx_victr1 + P_RandomKey(4));
 
+boolean P_GetLives(player_t *player);
 
 //
 // P_MOBJ
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index bfad339c0..66233568f 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -8098,6 +8098,51 @@ void P_FindEmerald(void)
 	return;
 }
 
+//
+// P_GetLives
+// Steal lives if you're allowed to.
+//
+
+boolean P_GetLives(player_t *player)
+{
+	INT32 i, maxlivesplayer = -1, livescheck = 1;
+	if (!(cv_steallives.value
+	&& (gametype == GT_COOP)
+	&& (netgame || multiplayer)))
+		return true;
+
+	if (player->lives > 0)
+		return true;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+	{
+		if (!playeringame[i])
+			continue;
+
+		if (players[i].spectator) // Ignore spectators
+			continue;
+
+		if (players[i].lives > livescheck)
+		{
+			maxlivesplayer = i;
+			livescheck = players[i].lives;
+		}
+	}
+	if (maxlivesplayer != -1)
+	{
+		if (players[maxlivesplayer].mo)
+			S_StartSound(players[maxlivesplayer].mo, sfx_jshard); // placeholder
+		P_GivePlayerLives(&players[maxlivesplayer], -1);
+		P_GivePlayerLives(player, 1);
+		if (netgame && P_IsLocalPlayer(player))
+			S_ChangeMusic(mapmusname, mapmusflags, true);
+		else if (player == &players[displayplayer] || player == &players[secondarydisplayplayer])
+			P_RestoreMusic(player);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 //
 // P_DeathThink
 // Fall on your face when dying.
@@ -8106,6 +8151,8 @@ void P_FindEmerald(void)
 
 static void P_DeathThink(player_t *player)
 {
+	INT32 j = MAXPLAYERS;
+
 	ticcmd_t *cmd = &player->cmd;
 	player->deltaviewheight = 0;
 
@@ -8121,10 +8168,31 @@ static void P_DeathThink(player_t *player)
 			G_UseContinue(); // Even if we don't have one this handles ending the game
 	}
 
+	if (cv_steallives.value
+	&& (gametype == GT_COOP)
+	&& (netgame || multiplayer)
+	&& (player->lives <= 0))
+	{
+		for (j = 0; j < MAXPLAYERS; j++)
+		{
+			if (!playeringame[j])
+				continue;
+
+			if (players[j].spectator) // Ignore spectators
+				continue;
+
+			if (players[j].bot) // ignore dumb, stupid tails
+				continue;
+
+			if (players[j].lives > 1)
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Force respawn if idle for more than 30 seconds in shooter modes.
 	if (player->deadtimer > 30*TICRATE && !G_PlatformGametype())
 		player->playerstate = PST_REBORN;
-	else if (player->lives > 0 && !G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)) // Don't allow "click to respawn" in special stages!
+	else if ((player->lives > 0 || j != MAXPLAYERS) && !G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)) // Don't allow "click to respawn" in special stages!
 	{
 		if (gametype == GT_COOP && (netgame || multiplayer) && cv_respawntype.value == 1) // Shamelessly lifted from TD. Thanks, Sryder!
 		{
@@ -8162,6 +8230,9 @@ static void P_DeathThink(player_t *player)
 					player->playerstate = PST_REBORN;
 				else switch(gametype) {
 					case GT_COOP:
+						if (player->deadtimer > TICRATE && P_GetLives(player))
+							player->playerstate = PST_REBORN;
+						break;
 					case GT_COMPETITION:
 						if (player->deadtimer > TICRATE)
 							player->playerstate = PST_REBORN;
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.c b/src/st_stuff.c
index 8e40f138c..f6dedf449 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.c
+++ b/src/st_stuff.c
@@ -731,6 +731,31 @@ static void ST_drawLives(void)
 	// lives
 	V_DrawRightAlignedString(hudinfo[HUD_LIVESNUM].x, hudinfo[HUD_LIVESNUM].y + (v_splitflag ? -4 : 0),
 		V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_HUDTRANS|v_splitflag, va("%d",stplyr->lives));
+
+	if (cv_steallives.value
+	&& (gametype == GT_COOP)
+	&& (netgame || multiplayer))
+	{
+		INT32 i, sum = 0;
+		for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+		{
+			if (!playeringame[i])
+				continue;
+
+			if (players[i].spectator) // Ignore spectators
+				continue;
+
+			if (&players[i] == stplyr)
+				continue;
+
+			if (players[i].lives < 2)
+				continue;
+
+			sum += (players[i].lives - 1);
+		}
+		V_DrawString(hudinfo[HUD_LIVESNUM].x, hudinfo[HUD_LIVESNUM].y + (v_splitflag ? -4 : 0),
+		V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_SNAPTOBOTTOM|V_HUDTRANSHALF|v_splitflag, va("/%d",sum));
+	}
 }
 
 static void ST_drawLevelTitle(void)
@@ -1826,6 +1851,30 @@ static void ST_overlayDrawer(void)
 			p = sboover;
 
 		V_DrawScaledPatch((BASEVIDWIDTH - SHORT(p->width))/2, STRINGY(BASEVIDHEIGHT/2 - (SHORT(p->height)/2)), 0, p);
+
+		if (cv_steallives.value
+		&& (gametype == GT_COOP)
+		&& (netgame || multiplayer))
+		{
+			INT32 i;
+			for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+			{
+				if (!playeringame[i])
+					continue;
+
+				if (players[i].spectator) // Ignore spectators
+					continue;
+
+				if (&players[i] == stplyr)
+					continue;
+
+				if (players[i].lives > 1)
+					break;
+			}
+
+			if (i != MAXPLAYERS)
+				V_DrawCenteredString(BASEVIDWIDTH/2, STRINGY(BASEVIDHEIGHT/2 + (SHORT(p->height)/2)) + 15, 0, M_GetText("You'll steal a life on respawn."));
+		}
 	}