diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_wither_spawning/init.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_wither_spawning/init.lua
index cee95a905..7d0746c5f 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_wither_spawning/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_wither_spawning/init.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ local dim = {"x", "z"}
 
 local modpath = minetest.get_modpath(minetest.get_current_modname())
 
+local anti_troll = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_anti_troll_measures", false)
+
 local function load_schem(filename)
 	local file = io.open(modpath .. "/schems/" .. filename, "r")
 	local data = minetest.deserialize(file:read())
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ local function wither_spawn(pos, player)
 		for i = 0, 2 do
 			local p = vector.add(pos, {x = 0, y = -2, z = 0, [d] = -i})
 			local schem = wither_spawn_schems[d]
-			if check_schem(p, schem) and check_limit(pos) then
+			if check_schem(p, schem) and (not anti_troll or check_limit(pos)) then
 				remove_schem(p, schem)
 				local wither = minetest.add_entity(vector.add(p, {x = 0, y = 1, z = 0, [d] = 1}), "mobs_mc:wither")
 				local wither_ent = wither:get_luaentity()
@@ -88,12 +90,14 @@ function wither_head.on_place(itemstack, placer, pointed)
 	return old_on_place(itemstack, placer, pointed)
 end
 
--- pull wither counts per dimension
-minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
-	wboss_overworld = mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld
-	wboss_nether = mobs_mc.wither_count_nether
-	wboss_end = mobs_mc.wither_count_end
-	mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld = 0
-	mobs_mc.wither_count_nether = 0
-	mobs_mc.wither_count_end = 0
-end)
+if anti_troll then
+	-- pull wither counts per dimension
+	minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
+		wboss_overworld = mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld
+		wboss_nether = mobs_mc.wither_count_nether
+		wboss_end = mobs_mc.wither_count_end
+		mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld = 0
+		mobs_mc.wither_count_nether = 0
+		mobs_mc.wither_count_end = 0
+	end)
+end
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/wither.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/wither.lua
index c189e97d9..524a57245 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/wither.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/wither.lua
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 --License for code WTFPL and otherwise stated in readmes
 
 local S = minetest.get_translator("mobs_mc")
-local mobs_griefing = minetest.settings:get_bool("mobs_griefing") ~= false
-local follow_spawner = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_follow_spawner") == true
-local w_strafes = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_strafes") ~= false
-local anti_troll = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_anti_troll_measures") ~= false
+local mobs_griefing = minetest.settings:get_bool("mobs_griefing", true)
+local follow_spawner = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_follow_spawner", false)
+local w_strafes = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_strafes", true)
+local anti_troll = minetest.settings:get_bool("wither_anti_troll_measures", false)
 
 local WITHER_INIT_BOOM = 7
 
@@ -170,38 +170,40 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:wither", {
 			self._custom_timer = self._custom_timer - 1
 		end
 
-		if anti_troll and self._spawner then
-			local spawner = minetest.get_player_by_name(self._spawner)
-			if follow_spawner and spawner then
-				self._death_timer = 0
-				local pos = self.object:get_pos()
-				local spw = spawner:get_pos()
-				local dist = vector.distance(pos, spw)
-				if dist > 60 then -- teleport to the player who spawned the wither
-					local R = 10
-					pos.x = spw.x + math.random(-R, R)
-					pos.y = spw.y + math.random(-R, R)
-					pos.z = spw.z + math.random(-R, R)
-					self.object:set_pos(pos)
+		-- anti-troll measures
+		if anti_troll then
+			if self._spawner then
+				local spawner = minetest.get_player_by_name(self._spawner)
+				if follow_spawner and spawner then
+					self._death_timer = 0
+					local pos = self.object:get_pos()
+					local spw = spawner:get_pos()
+					local dist = vector.distance(pos, spw)
+					if dist > 60 then -- teleport to the player who spawned the wither
+						local R = 10
+						pos.x = spw.x + math.random(-R, R)
+						pos.y = spw.y + math.random(-R, R)
+						pos.z = spw.z + math.random(-R, R)
+						self.object:set_pos(pos)
+					end
+				else -- despawn automatically after set time
+					-- HP changes impact timer: taking damage sets it back
+					self._death_timer = self._death_timer + self.health - self._health_old
+					if self.health == self._health_old then self._death_timer = self._death_timer + dtime end
+					if self._death_timer > 100 then
+						self.object:remove()
+						return false
+					end
+					self._health_old = self.health
 				end
-			else -- despawn automatically after set time
-				-- HP changes impact timer: taking damage sets it back
-				self._death_timer = self._death_timer + self.health - self._health_old
-				if self.health == self._health_old then self._death_timer = self._death_timer + dtime end
-				if self._death_timer > 100 then
-					self.object:remove()
-					return false
-				end
-				self._health_old = self.health
 			end
+			-- count withers per dimension
+			local dim = mcl_worlds.pos_to_dimension(self.object:get_pos())
+			if dim == "overworld" then mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld = mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld + 1
+			elseif dim == "nether" then mobs_mc.wither_count_nether = mobs_mc.wither_count_nether + 1
+			elseif dim == "end" then mobs_mc.wither_count_end = mobs_mc.wither_count_end + 1 end
 		end
 
-		-- count withers per dimension
-		local dim = mcl_worlds.pos_to_dimension(self.object:get_pos())
-		if dim == "overworld" then mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld = mobs_mc.wither_count_overworld + 1
-		elseif dim == "nether" then mobs_mc.wither_count_nether = mobs_mc.wither_count_nether + 1
-		elseif dim == "end" then mobs_mc.wither_count_end = mobs_mc.wither_count_end + 1 end
-
 		-- update things dependent on HP
 		local rand_factor
 		if self.health < (self.hp_max / 2) then
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 69bf108b9..3013b47a1 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ wither_follow_spawner (Wither following his spawner) bool false
 wither_strafes (Wither strafes) bool true
 
 #Wither anti-troll measures (escaping when stuck in a block, despawning when spawner goes offline, teleporting after the spawner). When this is OFF, wither_follow_spawner has no effect.
-wither_anti_troll_measures (Wither anti-troll measures) bool true
+wither_anti_troll_measures (Wither anti-troll measures) bool false
 
 #Display mob icons in inventory instead of mc-like spawn eggs
 mcl_old_spawn_icons (Old spawn icons instead of eggs) bool false