diff --git a/code/game/sound.dm b/code/game/sound.dm
index b150c1c148..231a346f2e 100644
--- a/code/game/sound.dm
+++ b/code/game/sound.dm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/proc/playsound(atom/source, soundin, vol as num, vary, extrarange as num, falloff, frequency = null, channel = 0, pressure_affected = TRUE)
+/proc/playsound(atom/source, soundin, vol as num, vary, extrarange as num, falloff, frequency = null, channel = 0, pressure_affected = TRUE, ignore_walls = TRUE)
 	if(isarea(source))
 		throw EXCEPTION("playsound(): source is an area")
 		return
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@
  	// Looping through the player list has the added bonus of working for mobs inside containers
 	var/sound/S = sound(get_sfx(soundin))
 	var/maxdistance = (world.view + extrarange) * 3
-	for(var/P in GLOB.player_list)
+	var/list/listeners = GLOB.player_list
+	if(!ignore_walls) //these sounds don't carry through walls
+		listeners = listeners & hearers(maxdistance,turf_source)
+	for(var/P in listeners)
 		var/mob/M = P
 		if(!M || !M.client)
 			continue