diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/word_lists.h b/Extension/Multiplayer/word_lists.h
index 31845210..7133dd37 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/word_lists.h
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/word_lists.h
@@ -24,4 +24,7 @@ inline constexpr unsigned word_warnings_default = 3, word_warnings_most = 10;
 inline constexpr std::string_view word_kick_notice = "Kicked for using words that are not allowed here.";
 // What the player is told at their `count`th warning of `warnings`.
 std::string word_warning(unsigned count, unsigned warnings);
+// And where nobody is warned or kicked (a server's "word_warnings": 0): the message is still
+// not passed on.
+inline constexpr std::string_view word_blocked_notice = "Your message was not sent: it has a word that is not allowed here.";
 } // namespace dingosdk::multiplayer
diff --git a/Server/README.txt b/Server/README.txt
index 0ced175f..7013c19a 100644
--- a/Server/README.txt
+++ b/Server/README.txt
@@ -122,11 +122,12 @@ afk_kick_minutes   Remove a player who has been away this many minutes, 1-1440
                    never removed for it. Console: afk-kick <minutes>|off.
 word_warnings      The ReSkate team keeps a list of words that are not allowed
                    in chat at all (read from api.reskate.dev with the global
-                   bans). A message with one is not passed on, and its player
-                   is warned. After this many warnings, 1-10 (default 3), the
-                   next one gets them kicked; they can join again, and are
-                   kicked again at the next. Warnings last until the server
-                   restarts. 0: such messages are passed on like any other.
+                   bans). A message with one is never passed on, whatever
+                   this is set to, and its player is warned. After this many
+                   warnings, 1-10 (default 3), the next one gets them kicked;
+                   they can join again, and are kicked again at the next.
+                   Warnings last until the server restarts. 0: nobody is
+                   warned or kicked; the message is still not passed on.
 allow_voice_chat   Allow voice chat.
 voice_range        How far proximity voice reaches, 50-1000 m.
 object_placement   everyone, admins (only admins can build), or nobody.
diff --git a/Server/main.cpp b/Server/main.cpp
index 9ab7fc11..5638c57a 100644
--- a/Server/main.cpp
+++ b/Server/main.cpp
@@ -478,7 +478,8 @@ int run(int argc, char **argv, bool skip_update) {
     std::future<UpdateCheck> update_check;
     bool update_now{}, update_waiting{}, restart{};
     // The backend's ban list (global_bans.h): read now and every ten minutes, a minute after a
-    // failure. "global_bans": false leaves it unread and lets those players in.
+    // failure. "global_bans": false lets those players in; the answer is still read, for the
+    // chat word lists that come in it.
     std::future<BanListCheck> ban_check;
     auto next_ban_check = next_advertise;
     bool bans_unread{};
@@ -552,8 +553,9 @@ int run(int argc, char **argv, bool skip_update) {
             }
             update_now = false;
         }
-        // (The chat word lists come in the same answer, so it is read for them too.)
-        if ((config.global_bans || config.word_warnings) && !ban_check.valid() && now_time >= next_ban_check)
+        // (The chat word lists come in the same answer, and hold on every server: it is read
+        // for them whether or not the bans are used.)
+        if (!ban_check.valid() && now_time >= next_ban_check)
             ban_check = std::async(std::launch::async, read_global_bans);
         if (ban_check.valid() && ban_check.wait_for(std::chrono::seconds(0)) == std::future_status::ready) {
             const auto check = ban_check.get();
@@ -564,10 +566,10 @@ int run(int argc, char **argv, bool skip_update) {
             if (check.ok && check.words_changed)
                 write_log("Word lists: " + std::to_string(check.filtered_words) + " filtered and " + std::to_string(check.forbidden_words) +
                           " not allowed at all, from the ReSkate team's lists." +
-                          (config.word_warnings ? "" : " (\"word_warnings\" is 0: nobody is warned or kicked for them here.)"));
+                          (config.word_warnings ? "" : " (\"word_warnings\" is 0: a message with one is not passed on, and nobody is warned or kicked.)"));
             else if (!check.ok && !bans_unread)
-                write_log("The global ban list could not be read (" + check.problem + "). Trying again every minute; " +
-                          "until then the bans already read hold.");
+                write_log("The ReSkate team's lists (global bans and chat words) could not be read (" + check.problem +
+                          "). Trying again every minute; until then the ones already read hold.");
             bans_unread = !check.ok;
         }
         if (update_waiting && !restart && host.players() == 0) {
diff --git a/Server/server_config.h b/Server/server_config.h
index 6e063da1..b334f0f6 100644
--- a/Server/server_config.h
+++ b/Server/server_config.h
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ struct ServerConfig {
     // Minutes a player may be away (not moving, talking, typing or building) before the server
     // removes them, 1 to 1440; 0: never. Admins are never removed for it.
     unsigned afk_kick = 0;
-    // A chat message with a word the ReSkate team does not allow at all (word_lists.h) is not
-    // passed on and its player warned; after this many warnings, 1 to 10, the next gets them
-    // kicked. 0: such messages are passed on like any other.
+    // A chat message with a word the ReSkate team does not allow at all (word_lists.h) is never
+    // passed on. Its player is warned; after this many warnings, 1 to 10, the next gets them
+    // kicked. 0: nobody is warned or kicked, and the message is still not passed on.
     unsigned word_warnings = 3;
     // Players whose game runs fast (a speedhack; Server/speed_check.h): "warn" takes them out of
     // throwdowns and coop challenges and tells the admins, "kick" also removes them, "off" does not check.
diff --git a/Server/server_host.cpp b/Server/server_host.cpp
index 8654dd94..ea231d30 100644
--- a/Server/server_host.cpp
+++ b/Server/server_host.cpp
@@ -701,7 +701,13 @@ void Host::send_chat(std::string_view text, Guest *only) {
     else broadcast(message, true, false);
 }
 bool Host::allowed_words(Guest &guest, std::string_view text) {
-    if (!config_.word_warnings || !text::contains_forbidden_words(text)) return true;
+    if (!text::contains_forbidden_words(text)) return true;
+    // Never passed on. Without warnings ("word_warnings": 0) that is all that happens.
+    if (!config_.word_warnings) {
+        log_("[words] " + guest_name(guest) + " said a word that is not allowed; the message was not passed on.");
+        send_chat(multiplayer::word_blocked_notice, &guest);
+        return false;
+    }
     const auto id = guest.member.id;
     const auto count = ++word_warnings_[id];
     if (count > config_.word_warnings) {