diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/IMessageRecipient.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/IMessageRecipient.java
index 1c2a13eba61..f1f6c91d025 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/IMessageRecipient.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/IMessageRecipient.java
@@ -127,7 +127,12 @@ enum MessageResponse {
          * States that the message was <b>NOT</b> delivered as a result of the sender being muted. The message may
          * still have been shown to social spies.
          */
-        SENDER_MUTED;
+        SENDER_MUTED,
+        /**
+         * States that the message was <b>NOT</b> received as a result of the recipient blocking incoming private
+         * messages via {@code essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block}.
+         */
+        RECIPIENT_BLOCKED;
 
         /**
          * Returns whether this response is a success. In other words equal to {@link #SUCCESS} or {@link #SUCCESS_BUT_AFK}
diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/SimpleMessageRecipient.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/SimpleMessageRecipient.java
index d4a2e7473dc..1f055af24e4 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/SimpleMessageRecipient.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/messaging/SimpleMessageRecipient.java
@@ -93,6 +93,17 @@ public MessageResponse sendMessage(final IMessageRecipient recipient, String mes
         message = preSendEvent.getMessage();
 
         final User senderUser = getUser(this);
+        final User recipientUser = getUser(recipient);
+        // A recipient with essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block fully blocks incoming private messages,
+        // rather than merely being exempt from the socialspy broadcast. Since the message is never
+        // delivered, there is nothing for social spies to observe either.
+        // Note: PrivateMessageSentEvent is intentionally not fired here so the message is not relayed
+        // elsewhere (e.g. to Discord) as though it had actually been delivered.
+        if (recipientUser != null && recipientUser.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block")) {
+            sendTl("msgIgnore", recipient.getDisplayName());
+            return MessageResponse.RECIPIENT_BLOCKED;
+        }
+
         // A muted player must not have their message delivered to the recipient. However, social spies
         // may still observe the attempted message (see the socialspy-listen-muted-players setting).
         // Note: PrivateMessageSentEvent is intentionally not fired here so the message is not relayed
@@ -142,6 +153,9 @@ public MessageResponse sendMessage(final IMessageRecipient recipient, String mes
 
     /**
      * Shows a private message to all online social spies, unless either party is exempt from being spied on.
+     * <p>
+     * Note: a recipient holding {@code essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block} never reaches this method, since
+     * their message is blocked before delivery in {@link #sendMessage(IMessageRecipient, String)}.
      *
      * @param recipient the recipient of the private message
      * @param message   the message that was sent
@@ -162,7 +176,8 @@ private void sendSocialSpy(final IMessageRecipient recipient, final String messa
         if (senderUser == null // not null if player.
                 || senderUser.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.spy.exempt")
                 || recipientUser == null
-                || recipientUser.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.spy.exempt")) {
+                || recipientUser.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.spy.exempt")
+                || recipientUser.isAuthorized("essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block")) {
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml b/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
index 68496ebbbdf..a10f3bf448e 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
@@ -710,6 +710,8 @@ permissions:
     description: Allows the bearers to see all local chat messages, regardless of their proximity to the sender
   essentials.chat.spy.exempt:
     description: Allows the bearer to be exempt from the local chat spy permission
+  essentials.chat.spy.exempt.block:
+    description: Allows the bearer to fully block incoming private messages, in addition to being exempt from the local chat spy permission
   essentials.clearinventory:
     description: Allows access to the /clearinventory command
   essentials.clearinventory.all: