diff --git a/config.lua.dist b/config.lua.dist
index 65adee897b..23e5571b88 100644
--- a/config.lua.dist
+++ b/config.lua.dist
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ expFromPlayersLevelRange = 75
 -- NOTE: maxPlayers set to 0 means no limit
 -- NOTE: allowWalkthrough is only applicable to players
 -- NOTE: two-factor auth requires token and timestamp in session key
+-- NOTE: statusCountMaxPlayersPerIp allows you to only count up to X players per IP in status response (0 = disabled)
 ip = "127.0.0.1"
 bindOnlyGlobalAddress = false
 loginProtocolPort = 7171
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ allowClones = false
 allowWalkthrough = true
 serverName = "Forgotten"
 statusTimeout = 5000
+statusCountMaxPlayersPerIp = 0
 replaceKickOnLogin = true
 maxPacketsPerSecond = 25
 enableTwoFactorAuth = true
diff --git a/src/configmanager.cpp b/src/configmanager.cpp
index 14c0731aa3..047cf43158 100644
--- a/src/configmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/configmanager.cpp
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@ bool ConfigManager::load()
 	integer[PROTECTION_LEVEL] = getGlobalNumber(L, "protectionLevel", 1);
 	integer[DEATH_LOSE_PERCENT] = getGlobalNumber(L, "deathLosePercent", -1);
 	integer[STATUSQUERY_TIMEOUT] = getGlobalNumber(L, "statusTimeout", 5000);
+	integer[STATUS_COUNT_MAX_PLAYERS_PER_IP] = getGlobalNumber(L, "statusCountMaxPlayersPerIp", 0);
 	integer[FRAG_TIME] = getGlobalNumber(L, "timeToDecreaseFrags", 24 * 60 * 60);
 	integer[WHITE_SKULL_TIME] = getGlobalNumber(L, "whiteSkullTime", 15 * 60);
 	integer[STAIRHOP_DELAY] = getGlobalNumber(L, "stairJumpExhaustion", 2000);
diff --git a/src/configmanager.h b/src/configmanager.h
index 2ee4541304..0b7d1e7386 100644
--- a/src/configmanager.h
+++ b/src/configmanager.h
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ enum integer_config_t
 	PROTECTION_LEVEL,
 	DEATH_LOSE_PERCENT,
 	STATUSQUERY_TIMEOUT,
+	STATUS_COUNT_MAX_PLAYERS_PER_IP,
 	FRAG_TIME,
 	WHITE_SKULL_TIME,
 	GAME_PORT,
diff --git a/src/protocolstatus.cpp b/src/protocolstatus.cpp
index e8434a3c35..064c1a5dfb 100644
--- a/src/protocolstatus.cpp
+++ b/src/protocolstatus.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "outputmessage.h"
 
+#include <ranges>
+
 extern Game g_game;
 
 std::map<Connection::Address, int64_t> ProtocolStatus::ipConnectMap;
@@ -104,7 +106,25 @@ void ProtocolStatus::sendStatusString()
 	owner.append_attribute("email") = getString(ConfigManager::OWNER_EMAIL).c_str();
 
 	pugi::xml_node players = tsqp.append_child("players");
-	players.append_attribute("online") = std::to_string(g_game.getPlayersOnline()).c_str();
+
+	uint32_t reportableOnlinePlayerCount = 0;
+	uint32_t maxPlayersPerIp = getNumber(ConfigManager::STATUS_COUNT_MAX_PLAYERS_PER_IP);
+	if (maxPlayersPerIp > 0) {
+		std::map<Connection::Address, uint32_t> playersPerIp;
+		for (const auto& it : g_game.getPlayers()) {
+			if (!it.second->getIP().is_unspecified()) {
+				++playersPerIp[it.second->getIP()];
+			}
+		}
+
+		for (auto& p : playersPerIp | std::views::values) {
+			reportableOnlinePlayerCount += std::min(p, maxPlayersPerIp);
+		}
+	} else {
+		reportableOnlinePlayerCount = g_game.getPlayersOnline();
+	}
+
+	players.append_attribute("online") = std::to_string(reportableOnlinePlayerCount).c_str();
 	players.append_attribute("max") = std::to_string(getNumber(ConfigManager::MAX_PLAYERS)).c_str();
 	players.append_attribute("peak") = std::to_string(g_game.getPlayersRecord()).c_str();