diff --git a/src/core/ignore.c b/src/core/ignore.c
index cec91e6b..8745c434 100644
--- a/src/core/ignore.c
+++ b/src/core/ignore.c
@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@ static int ignore_match_pattern(IGNORE_REC *rec, const char *text)
  * used as a flag to indicate it should only look at ignore items with NO_ACT.
  * However we also want to allow NO_ACT combined with levels, so mask it out and
  * match levels if set. */
+#define FLAG_MSGLEVELS ( MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN )
 #define ignore_match_level(rec, level) \
-        (((level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT) != 0) ? \
-         ((~MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT & level) & (rec)->level) != 0 : \
-         ((rec)->level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT ? 0 : \
+        (((level & FLAG_MSGLEVELS) != 0) ? \
+         ((~FLAG_MSGLEVELS & level) & (rec)->level) != 0 : \
+         ((rec)->level & FLAG_MSGLEVELS ? 0 : \
          (level & (rec)->level) != 0))
 
 #define ignore_match_nickmask(rec, nick, nickmask) \
@@ -212,6 +213,12 @@ IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_full(const char *servertag, const char *mask, const char
 		if (!(flags & IGNORE_FIND_NOACT) && (rec->level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT) != 0)
 			continue;
 
+		if ((flags & IGNORE_FIND_HIDDEN) && (rec->level & MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN) == 0)
+			continue;
+
+		if (!(flags & IGNORE_FIND_HIDDEN) && (rec->level & MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN) != 0)
+			continue;
+
 		if ((rec->mask == NULL && mask != NULL) ||
 		    (rec->mask != NULL && mask == NULL))
 			continue;
@@ -264,6 +271,11 @@ IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_noact(const char *servertag, const char *mask, char **ch
 	return ignore_find_full(servertag, mask, NULL, channels, IGNORE_FIND_NOACT);
 }
 
+IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_hidden(const char *servertag, const char *mask, char **channels, int hidden)
+{
+	return ignore_find_full(servertag, mask, NULL, channels, IGNORE_FIND_HIDDEN);
+}
+
 static void ignore_set_config(IGNORE_REC *rec)
 {
 	CONFIG_NODE *node;
diff --git a/src/core/ignore.h b/src/core/ignore.h
index 31171b58..958aa801 100644
--- a/src/core/ignore.h
+++ b/src/core/ignore.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ int ignore_check(SERVER_REC *server, const char *nick, const char *host,
 enum {
 	IGNORE_FIND_PATTERN = 0x01, /* Match the pattern */
 	IGNORE_FIND_NOACT   = 0x02, /* Exclude the targets with NOACT level */
+	IGNORE_FIND_HIDDEN  = 0x04, /* Exclude the targets with HIDDEN level */
 };
 
 IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_full (const char *servertag, const char *mask, const char *pattern,
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_full (const char *servertag, const char *mask, const cha
 
 IGNORE_REC *ignore_find(const char *servertag, const char *mask, char **channels);
 IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_noact(const char *servertag, const char *mask, char **channels, int noact);
+IGNORE_REC *ignore_find_hidden(const char *servertag, const char *mask, char **channels, int hidden);
 
 void ignore_add_rec(IGNORE_REC *rec);
 void ignore_update_rec(IGNORE_REC *rec);
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/fe-ignore.c b/src/fe-common/core/fe-ignore.c
index 03fd4dd2..39c4dd9f 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/fe-ignore.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/fe-ignore.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static void cmd_ignore(const char *data)
 	char *patternarg, *chanarg, *mask, *levels, *timestr, *servertag;
 	char **channels;
 	void *free_arg;
-	int new_ignore, msecs, level;
+	int new_ignore, msecs, level, flags;
 
 	if (*data == '\0') {
 		cmd_ignore_show();
@@ -156,8 +156,13 @@ static void cmd_ignore(const char *data)
 	channels = (chanarg == NULL || *chanarg == '\0') ? NULL :
 		g_strsplit(chanarg, ",", -1);
 
-	rec = ignore_find_full(servertag, mask, patternarg, channels,
-			  IGNORE_FIND_PATTERN | ((level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT) ? IGNORE_FIND_NOACT : 0));
+	flags = IGNORE_FIND_PATTERN;
+	if (level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT)
+		flags |= IGNORE_FIND_NOACT;
+	if (level & MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN)
+		flags |= IGNORE_FIND_HIDDEN;
+
+	rec = ignore_find_full(servertag, mask, patternarg, channels, flags);
 	new_ignore = rec == NULL;
 
 	if (rec == NULL) {
@@ -179,6 +184,12 @@ static void cmd_ignore(const char *data)
 		rec->level |= MSGLEVEL_ALL;
 	}
 
+	if (rec->level == MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN) {
+		/* If only HIDDEN was specified add all levels; it makes no
+		 * sense on its own. */
+		rec->level |= MSGLEVEL_ALL;
+	}
+
 	if (new_ignore && rec->level == 0) {
 		/* tried to unignore levels from nonexisting ignore */
 		printformat(NULL, NULL, MSGLEVEL_CLIENTNOTICE,
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/fe-messages.c b/src/fe-common/core/fe-messages.c
index 487a5754..05c64d70 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/fe-messages.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/fe-messages.c
@@ -204,6 +204,9 @@ static void sig_message_public(SERVER_REC *server, const char *msg,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, target, msg, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, target, msg, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	if (settings_get_bool("emphasis"))
 		msg = freemsg = expand_emphasis((WI_ITEM_REC *) chanrec, msg);
 
@@ -263,6 +266,9 @@ static void sig_message_private(SERVER_REC *server, const char *msg,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, NULL, msg, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, NULL, msg, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	if (own) {
 		printformat(server, target, level,
 			    query == NULL ? TXT_OWN_MSG_PRIVATE :
@@ -358,6 +364,9 @@ static void sig_message_join(SERVER_REC *server, const char *channel,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, NULL, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, NULL, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	printformat(server, channel, level,
 		    TXT_JOIN, nick, address, channel);
 }
@@ -371,6 +380,9 @@ static void sig_message_part(SERVER_REC *server, const char *channel,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, NULL, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, NULL, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	printformat(server, channel, level,
 		    TXT_PART, nick, address, channel, reason);
 }
@@ -390,6 +402,9 @@ static void sig_message_quit(SERVER_REC *server, const char *nick,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, NULL, reason, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, NULL, reason, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	print_channel = NULL;
 	once = settings_get_bool("show_quit_once");
 
@@ -412,6 +427,9 @@ static void sig_message_quit(SERVER_REC *server, const char *nick,
 		if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, rec->visible_name, reason, MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 			level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+		if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, rec->visible_name, reason, MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+			level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 		if (print_channel == NULL ||
 		    active_win->active == (WI_ITEM_REC *) rec)
 			print_channel = rec->visible_name;
@@ -461,6 +479,9 @@ static void sig_message_kick(SERVER_REC *server, const char *channel,
 	if (ignore_check(server, kicker, address, channel, reason, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, kicker, address, channel, reason, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	printformat(server, channel, level,
 		    TXT_KICK, nick, channel, kicker, reason, address);
 }
@@ -482,6 +503,9 @@ static void print_nick_change_channel(SERVER_REC *server, const char *channel,
 	if (!(level & MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT) && ignore_check(server, oldnick, address, channel, newnick, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (!(level & MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN) && ignore_check(server, oldnick, address, channel, newnick, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	printformat(server, channel, level,
 		    ownnick ? TXT_YOUR_NICK_CHANGED : TXT_NICK_CHANGED,
 		    oldnick, newnick, channel, address);
@@ -561,6 +585,9 @@ static void sig_message_topic(SERVER_REC *server, const char *channel,
 	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, topic, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address, channel, topic, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	printformat(server, channel, level,
 		    *topic != '\0' ? TXT_NEW_TOPIC : TXT_TOPIC_UNSET,
 		    nick, channel, topic, address);
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/window-activity.c b/src/fe-common/core/window-activity.c
index 3be30ae7..89493aea 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/window-activity.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/window-activity.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static void read_settings(void)
 	hide_targets = *targets == '\0' ? NULL :
 		g_strsplit(targets, " ", -1);
 
-	hide_level = MSGLEVEL_NEVER | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT |
+	hide_level = MSGLEVEL_NEVER | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN |
 		settings_get_level("activity_hide_level");
 	msg_level = settings_get_level("activity_msg_level");
 	hilight_level = MSGLEVEL_HILIGHT |
diff --git a/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/fe-dcc-chat-messages.c b/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/fe-dcc-chat-messages.c
index 45791f56..3a45a36b 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/fe-dcc-chat-messages.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/fe-dcc-chat-messages.c
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ static void sig_message_dcc(CHAT_DCC_REC *dcc, const char *msg)
 				level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(SERVER(dcc->server), tag, dcc->addrstr, NULL, msg,
+				level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	format_create_dest_tag(&dest, dcc->server, dcc->servertag, tag,
 			       level, NULL);
 
@@ -118,6 +122,10 @@ static void sig_message_dcc_action(CHAT_DCC_REC *dcc, const char *msg)
 				level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(SERVER(dcc->server), tag, dcc->addrstr, NULL, msg,
+				level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	format_create_dest_tag(&dest, dcc->server, dcc->servertag, tag,
 			       level, NULL);
 
@@ -139,6 +147,10 @@ static void sig_message_dcc_ctcp(CHAT_DCC_REC *dcc, const char *cmd,
 				level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(SERVER(dcc->server), tag, dcc->addrstr, NULL, cmd,
+				level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	format_create_dest_tag(&dest, dcc->server, dcc->servertag, tag,
 			       level, NULL);
 
diff --git a/src/fe-common/irc/fe-irc-messages.c b/src/fe-common/irc/fe-irc-messages.c
index 40ca306d..e8558a17 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/irc/fe-irc-messages.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/irc/fe-irc-messages.c
@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ static void sig_message_irc_action(IRC_SERVER_REC *server, const char *msg,
 			 level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(SERVER(server), nick, address, target, msg,
+			 level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
 	if (server_ischannel(SERVER(server), target)) {
 		item = irc_channel_find(server, target);
 	} else {
@@ -241,6 +245,11 @@ static void sig_message_irc_notice(SERVER_REC *server, const char *msg,
 			 msg, level | MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT))
 		level |= MSGLEVEL_NO_ACT;
 
+	if (ignore_check(server, nick, address,
+			 server_ischannel(SERVER(server), target) ? target : NULL,
+			 msg, level | MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN))
+		level |= MSGLEVEL_HIDDEN;
+
         if (server_ischannel(SERVER(server), target)) {
 		/* notice in some channel */
 		printformat(server, target, level,