diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/depends.txt b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/depends.txt
index 492887c93b..c5d5193f73 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/depends.txt
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/depends.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 mcl_sounds
 mcl_util
 walkover
+mcl_death_messages
 doc_items
 doc?
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/init.lua
index 4f103ef7ea..f6275c78b7 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_nether/init.lua
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ minetest.register_node("mcl_nether:magma", {
 	-- From walkover mod
 	on_walk_over = function(loc, nodeiamon, player)
 		-- Hurt players standing on top of this block
-		player:set_hp(player:get_hp() - 1)
+		if player:get_hp() > 0 then
+			mcl_death_messages.player_damage(player, string.format("%s stood too long on a magma block.", player:get_player_name()))
+			player:set_hp(player:get_hp() - 1)
+		end
 	end,
 	_mcl_blast_resistance = 2.5,
 	_mcl_hardness = 0.5,
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/mod.conf b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/mod.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index a090fb79e5..0000000000
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/mod.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-name = mcl_death
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/depends.txt b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/depends.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/depends.txt
rename to mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/depends.txt
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/description.txt b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/description.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/description.txt
rename to mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/description.txt
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d69290f05c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
+	local keep = minetest.setting_getbool("mcl_keepInventory") or false
+	if keep == false then
+		-- Drop inventory, crafting grid and armor
+		local inv = player:get_inventory()
+		local pos = player:getpos()
+		local name, player_armor_inv, armor_armor_inv, pos = armor:get_valid_player(player, "[on_dieplayer]")
+		local lists = {
+			{ inv = inv, listname = "main", drop = true },
+			{ inv = inv, listname = "craft", drop = true },
+			{ inv = player_armor_inv, listname = "armor", drop = true },
+			{ inv = armor_armor_inv, listname = "armor", drop = false },
+		}
+		for l=1,#lists do
+			local inv = lists[l].inv
+			local listname = lists[l].listname
+			local drop = lists[l].drop
+			if inv ~= nil then
+				for i, stack in ipairs(inv:get_list(listname)) do
+					local x = math.random(0, 9)/3
+					local z = math.random(0, 9)/3
+					pos.x = pos.x + x
+					pos.z = pos.z + z
+					if drop then
+						minetest.add_item(pos, stack)
+					end
+					stack:clear()
+					inv:set_stack(listname, i, stack)
+					pos.x = pos.x - x
+					pos.z = pos.z - z
+				end
+			end
+		end
+		armor:set_player_armor(player)
+		armor:update_inventory(player)
+	end
+end)
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/mod.conf b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/mod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..93ed70ad41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_drop/mod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+name = mcl_death_drop
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/description.txt b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/description.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c322f644d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/description.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Shows messages in chat when a player dies.
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/init.lua
similarity index 73%
rename from mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/init.lua
rename to mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/init.lua
index 13d316d009..65277a5e66 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death/init.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/init.lua
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
+mcl_death_messages = {}
+
 -- Death messages
 local msgs = {
 	["arrow"] = {
 		"%s was fatally hit by an arrow.",
 		"%s has been killed with an arrow.",
 	},
-	["cactus"] = {
-		"%s was killed by a cactus.",
-		"%s was pricked to death.",
-	},
 	["fire"] = {
 		"%s has been cooked crisp.",
 		"%s felt the burn.",
@@ -123,45 +121,9 @@ local mmsg = function(mtype, ...)
 	end
 end
 
-local last_punches = { }
+local last_damages = { }
 
 minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
-	local keep = minetest.setting_getbool("mcl_keepInventory") or false
-	if keep == false then
-		-- Drop inventory, crafting grid and armor
-		local inv = player:get_inventory()
-		local pos = player:getpos()
-		local name, player_armor_inv, armor_armor_inv, pos = armor:get_valid_player(player, "[on_dieplayer]")
-		local lists = {
-			{ inv = inv, listname = "main", drop = true },
-			{ inv = inv, listname = "craft", drop = true },
-			{ inv = player_armor_inv, listname = "armor", drop = true },
-			{ inv = armor_armor_inv, listname = "armor", drop = false },
-		}
-		for l=1,#lists do
-			local inv = lists[l].inv
-			local listname = lists[l].listname
-			local drop = lists[l].drop
-			if inv ~= nil then
-				for i, stack in ipairs(inv:get_list(listname)) do
-					local x = math.random(0, 9)/3
-					local z = math.random(0, 9)/3
-					pos.x = pos.x + x
-					pos.z = pos.z + z
-					if drop then
-						minetest.add_item(pos, stack)
-					end
-					stack:clear()
-					inv:set_stack(listname, i, stack)
-					pos.x = pos.x - x
-					pos.z = pos.z - z
-				end
-			end
-		end
-		armor:set_player_armor(player)
-		armor:update_inventory(player)
-	end
-
 	-- Death message
 	local message = minetest.setting_getbool("mcl_showDeathMessages")
 	if message == nil then message = true end
@@ -185,31 +147,31 @@ minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
 		-- Void
 		elseif node.name == "mcl_core:void" then
 			msg = dmsg("void", name)
-		-- Cactus
-		elseif node.name == "mcl_core:cactus" then
-			msg = dmsg("cactus", name)
 		-- Other
 		else
 			-- Killed by entity
-			if last_punches[name] then
+			if last_damages[name] then
 				-- Mob
-				if last_punches[name].hittertype == "mob" then
-					if last_punches[name].hittername then
-						msg = dmsg("murder", name, last_punches[name].hittername)
+				if last_damages[name].hittertype == "mob" then
+					if last_damages[name].hittername then
+						msg = dmsg("murder", name, last_damages[name].hittername)
 					else
-						msg = mmsg(last_punches[name].hittersubtype, name)
+						msg = mmsg(last_damages[name].hittersubtype, name)
 					end
 				-- Player
-				elseif last_punches[name].hittertype == "player" then
-					msg = dmsg("murder", name, last_punches[name].hittername)
+				elseif last_damages[name].hittertype == "player" then
+					msg = dmsg("murder", name, last_damages[name].hittername)
 				-- Arrow
-				elseif last_punches[name].hittertype == "arrow" then
+				elseif last_damages[name].hittertype == "arrow" then
 					msg = dmsg("arrow", name)
 				-- Fireball
-				elseif last_punches[name].hittertype == "blaze_fireball" then
+				elseif last_damages[name].hittertype == "blaze_fireball" then
 					msg = dmsg("blaze_fireball", name)
-				elseif last_punches[name].hittertype == "ghast_fireball" then
+				elseif last_damages[name].hittertype == "ghast_fireball" then
 					msg = dmsg("ghast_fireball", name)
+				-- Custom death message
+				elseif last_damages[name].custom then
+					msg = last_damages[name].message
 				end
 			-- Other reason
 			else
@@ -222,6 +184,11 @@ minetest.register_on_dieplayer(function(player)
 	end
 end)
 
+local start_damage_reset_countdown = function (player)
+	minetest.after(1, function(playername)
+		last_damages[playername] = nil
+	end, player:get_player_name())
+end
 
 minetest.register_on_punchplayer(function(player, hitter)
 	if not player or not player:is_player() or not hitter then
@@ -256,8 +223,12 @@ minetest.register_on_punchplayer(function(player, hitter)
 		return
 	end
 
-	last_punches[player:get_player_name()] = { shooter = shooter, hittername = hittername, hittertype = hittertype, hittersubtype = hittersubtype }
-	minetest.after(1, function(playername)
-		last_punches[playername] = nil
-	end, player:get_player_name())
+	last_damages[player:get_player_name()] = { shooter = shooter, hittername = hittername, hittertype = hittertype, hittersubtype = hittersubtype }
+	start_damage_reset_countdown(player)
 end)
+
+-- To be called to notify this mod that a player has been damaged, with a custom death message if the player died
+function mcl_death_messages.player_damage(player, message)
+	last_damages[player:get_player_name()] = { custom = true, message = message }
+	start_damage_reset_countdown(player)
+end
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/mod.conf b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/mod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4e43960742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_death_messages/mod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+name = mcl_death_messages
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/depends.txt b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/depends.txt
index d76b6ecef9..e5b017ff7b 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/depends.txt
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/depends.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ mcl_util
 mcl_core
 mcl_particles
 mcl_hunger
+mcl_death_messages
 3d_armor?
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/init.lua
index 4532fcb6c8..4e7ee95467 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/init.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_playerplus/init.lua
@@ -167,10 +167,11 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 			-- am I touching the cactus? if so it hurts
 			for _,object in pairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(near, 1.1)) do
 				if object:get_hp() > 0 then
-					object:set_hp(object:get_hp() - 1)
 					if object:is_player() then
+						mcl_death_messages.player_damage(object, string.format("%s was prickled by a cactus", object:get_player_name()))
 						mcl_hunger.exhaust(object:get_player_name(), mcl_hunger.EXHAUST_DAMAGE)
 					end
+					object:set_hp(object:get_hp() - 1)
 				end
 			end