diff --git a/src/main/resources/application.conf b/src/main/resources/application.conf
index a6ae0505f..441d15e02 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/application.conf
+++ b/src/main/resources/application.conf
@@ -1069,6 +1069,11 @@ opencomputers {
       # avoid issues with computers timing out, but can also lead to higher
       # server load. AGAIN, USE WITH CARE!
       threadPriority: -1
+
+      # Whether to give a new player a free copy of the manual. This will only
+      # happen one time per game, not per world, not per death. Once. If this
+      # is still too much for your taste, disable it here ;-)
+      giveManualToNewPlayers: true
   }
 
   # Settings for mod integration (the mod previously known as OpenComponents).
diff --git a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/Settings.scala b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/Settings.scala
index 9baf49ed9..987f0c8ee 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/Settings.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/Settings.scala
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ class Settings(val config: Config) {
   val presentChance = config.getDouble("misc.presentChance") max 0 min 1
   val assemblerBlacklist = config.getStringList("misc.assemblerBlacklist")
   val threadPriority = config.getInt("misc.threadPriority")
+  val giveManualToNewPlayers = config.getBoolean("misc.giveManualToNewPlayers")
 
   // ----------------------------------------------------------------------- //
   // printer
diff --git a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/common/EventHandler.scala b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/common/EventHandler.scala
index a1a594c74..447cd5458 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/common/EventHandler.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/common/EventHandler.scala
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@ import li.cil.oc.server.machine.Machine
 import li.cil.oc.server.{PacketSender => ServerPacketSender}
 import li.cil.oc.util._
 import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft
+import net.minecraft.entity.player.EntityPlayer
 import net.minecraft.entity.player.EntityPlayerMP
 import net.minecraft.item.ItemStack
+import net.minecraft.nbt.NBTTagCompound
 import net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer
 import net.minecraft.tileentity.TileEntity
 import net.minecraftforge.common.util.FakePlayer
+import net.minecraftforge.event.entity.EntityJoinWorldEvent
 import net.minecraftforge.event.world.BlockEvent
 import net.minecraftforge.event.world.WorldEvent
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.common.eventhandler.SubscribeEvent
@@ -187,6 +190,23 @@ object EventHandler {
     keyboards.foreach(_.releasePressedKeys(e.player))
   }
 
+  @SubscribeEvent
+  def onEntityJoinWorld(e: EntityJoinWorldEvent): Unit = {
+    if (Settings.get.giveManualToNewPlayers && !e.world.isRemote) e.entity match {
+      case player: EntityPlayer if !player.isInstanceOf[FakePlayer] =>
+        val nbt = player.getEntityData
+        if (!nbt.hasKey(EntityPlayer.PERSISTED_NBT_TAG)) {
+          nbt.setTag(EntityPlayer.PERSISTED_NBT_TAG, new NBTTagCompound())
+        }
+        val ocData = nbt.getCompoundTag(EntityPlayer.PERSISTED_NBT_TAG)
+        if (!ocData.getBoolean(Settings.namespace + "receivedManual")) {
+          ocData.setBoolean(Settings.namespace + "receivedManual", true)
+          player.inventory.addItemStackToInventory(api.Items.get(Constants.ItemName.Manual).createItemStack(1))
+        }
+      case _ =>
+    }
+  }
+
   lazy val drone = api.Items.get(Constants.ItemName.Drone)
   lazy val eeprom = api.Items.get(Constants.ItemName.EEPROM)
   lazy val mcu = api.Items.get(Constants.BlockName.Microcontroller)