diff --git a/doc/fixes37.0 b/doc/fixes37.0
index a84f301f6..8c558e278 100644
--- a/doc/fixes37.0
+++ b/doc/fixes37.0
@@ -712,6 +712,8 @@ polymorphing while wearing an amulet of strangulation from a form that wasn't
 	vulnerable to one that was gave wrong message ("still constricts")
 for accessibility reasons, give a message when monster teleports
 if a gremlin stole intrinsic 'see invisible' the map wasn't updated properly
+mark some messages as urgent ("You die*.", having equipment stolen, being
+	caught in a magical explosion)
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
@@ -1323,6 +1325,8 @@ tiles: male and female variations in monsters.txt; tested only with tile2bmp
 	conversion utility so far; also supported by tilemap utility to
 	generate tile.c
 tty: use bright colors directly on supporting terminals
+tty: if a message is marked urgent, override message suppression initiated
+	by user having typed ESC at previous --More-- prompt
 Unix: can define NOSUSPEND in config.h or src/Makefile's CFLAGS to prevent
 	unixconf.h from enabling SUSPEND without need to modify unixconf.h
 X11: implement 'selectsaved', restore via menu of saved games
diff --git a/src/hack.c b/src/hack.c
index 9b1625a7c..07c6d2c46 100644
--- a/src/hack.c
+++ b/src/hack.c
@@ -3252,7 +3252,7 @@ maybe_wail(void)
 }
 
 void
-losehp(register int n, register const char *knam, boolean k_format)
+losehp(int n, const char *knam, boolean k_format)
 {
 #if 0   /* code below is prepared to handle negative 'loss' so don't add this
          * until we've verified that no callers intentionally rely on that */
@@ -3281,7 +3281,7 @@ losehp(register int n, register const char *knam, boolean k_format)
         g.killer.format = k_format;
         if (g.killer.name != knam) /* the thing that killed you */
             Strcpy(g.killer.name, knam ? knam : "");
-        You("die...");
+        custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE, "You die...");
         done(DIED);
     } else if (n > 0 && u.uhp * 10 < u.uhpmax) {
         maybe_wail();
diff --git a/src/mhitu.c b/src/mhitu.c
index 8038cde37..d1de21099 100644
--- a/src/mhitu.c
+++ b/src/mhitu.c
@@ -1838,11 +1838,12 @@ doseduce(struct monst *mon)
     }
 
     naked = (!uarmc && !uarmf && !uarmg && !uarms && !uarmh && !uarmu);
-    pline("%s %s%s.", Who,
-          Deaf ? "seems to murmur into your ear"
-               : naked ? "murmurs sweet nothings into your ear"
-                       : "murmurs in your ear",
-          naked ? "" : ", while helping you undress");
+    custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+                "%s %s%s.", Who,
+                Deaf ? "seems to murmur into your ear"
+                : naked ? "murmurs sweet nothings into your ear"
+                  : "murmurs in your ear",
+                naked ? "" : ", while helping you undress");
     mayberem(mon, Who, uarmc, cloak_simple_name(uarmc));
     if (!uarmc)
         mayberem(mon, Who, uarm, suit_simple_name(uarm));
@@ -1878,7 +1879,8 @@ doseduce(struct monst *mon)
                 verbalize("Well, then you owe me %s%s!",
                           yourgloves ? yname(yourgloves)
                                      : "twelve pairs of gloves",
-                          yourgloves ? " and eleven more pairs of gloves" : "");
+                          yourgloves ? " and eleven more pairs of gloves"
+                                     : "");
             }
 	} else if (seewho)
             pline("%s appears to sigh.", Monnam(mon));
@@ -1892,8 +1894,9 @@ doseduce(struct monst *mon)
         adjalign(1);
 
     /* by this point you have discovered mon's identity, blind or not... */
-    pline("Time stands still while you and %s lie in each other's arms...",
-          noit_mon_nam(mon));
+    custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+             "Time stands still while you and %s lie in each other's arms...",
+                noit_mon_nam(mon));
     /* 3.6.1: a combined total for charisma plus intelligence of 35-1
        used to guarantee successful outcome; now total maxes out at 32
        as far as deciding what will happen; chance for bad outcome when
diff --git a/src/pickup.c b/src/pickup.c
index 6ca7b06ed..d00ddcb5c 100644
--- a/src/pickup.c
+++ b/src/pickup.c
@@ -2392,8 +2392,9 @@ in_container(struct obj *obj)
         }
     } else if (Is_mbag(g.current_container) && mbag_explodes(obj, 0)) {
         /* explicitly mention what item is triggering the explosion */
-        pline("As you put %s inside, you are blasted by a magical explosion!",
-              doname(obj));
+        custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+              "As you put %s inside, you are blasted by a magical explosion!",
+                    doname(obj));
         /* did not actually insert obj yet */
         if (was_unpaid)
             addtobill(obj, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE);
diff --git a/src/read.c b/src/read.c
index 23c435133..9d14c444f 100644
--- a/src/read.c
+++ b/src/read.c
@@ -2467,7 +2467,7 @@ do_class_genocide(void)
                         u.mh = -1;
                         if (Unchanging) {
                             if (!feel_dead++)
-                                You("die.");
+                                custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE, "You die.");
                             /* finish genociding this class of
                                monsters before ultimately dying */
                             gameover = TRUE;
@@ -2484,7 +2484,7 @@ do_class_genocide(void)
                                 You_feel("%s inside.", udeadinside());
                         } else {
                             if (!feel_dead++)
-                                You("die.");
+                                custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE, "You die.");
                             gameover = TRUE;
                         }
                     }
diff --git a/src/steal.c b/src/steal.c
index b8be4d777..05003ace0 100644
--- a/src/steal.c
+++ b/src/steal.c
@@ -428,22 +428,23 @@ steal(struct monst* mtmp, char* objnambuf)
                     unmul((char *) 0);
                 slowly = (armordelay >= 1 || g.multi < 0);
                 if (flags.female)
-                    pline("%s charms you.  You gladly %s your %s.",
-                          !seen ? "She" : Monnam(mtmp),
-                          curssv ? "let her take"
-                                 : !slowly ? "hand over"
-                                           : was_doffing ? "continue removing"
-                                                         : "start removing",
-                          equipname(otmp));
+                    custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+                                "%s charms you.  You gladly %s your %s.",
+                                !seen ? "She" : Monnam(mtmp),
+                                curssv ? "let her take"
+                                : !slowly ? "hand over"
+                                  : was_doffing ? "continue removing"
+                                    : "start removing",
+                                equipname(otmp));
                 else
-                    pline("%s seduces you and %s off your %s.",
-                          !seen ? "She" : Adjmonnam(mtmp, "beautiful"),
-                          curssv
-                              ? "helps you to take"
-                              : !slowly ? "you take"
-                                        : was_doffing ? "you continue taking"
-                                                      : "you start taking",
-                          equipname(otmp));
+                    custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+                                "%s seduces you and %s off your %s.",
+                                !seen ? "She" : Adjmonnam(mtmp, "beautiful"),
+                                curssv ? "helps you to take"
+                                : !slowly ? "you take"
+                                  : was_doffing ? "you continue taking"
+                                    : "you start taking",
+                                equipname(otmp));
                 named++;
                 /* the following is to set multi for later on */
                 nomul(-armordelay);
@@ -478,9 +479,10 @@ steal(struct monst* mtmp, char* objnambuf)
         subfrombill(otmp, shop_keeper(*u.ushops));
     freeinv(otmp);
     /* if attached ball was taken, uball and uchain are now Null */
-    pline("%s%s stole %s.", named ? "She" : Monnam(mtmp),
-          (was_punished && !Punished) ? " removed your chain and" : "",
-          doname(otmp));
+    custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE,
+                "%s%s stole %s.", named ? "She" : Monnam(mtmp),
+                (was_punished && !Punished) ? " removed your chain and" : "",
+                doname(otmp));
     could_petrify = (otmp->otyp == CORPSE
                      && touch_petrifies(&mons[otmp->corpsenm]));
     (void) mpickobj(mtmp, otmp); /* may free otmp */
diff --git a/src/zap.c b/src/zap.c
index 96ea5de3f..38ab80041 100644
--- a/src/zap.c
+++ b/src/zap.c
@@ -2635,7 +2635,7 @@ zapyourself(struct obj *obj, boolean ordinary)
         Sprintf(g.killer.name, "shot %sself with a death ray", uhim());
         g.killer.format = NO_KILLER_PREFIX;
         You("irradiate yourself with pure energy!");
-        You("die.");
+        custompline(URGENT_MESSAGE, "You die.");
         /* They might survive with an amulet of life saving */
         done(DIED);
         break;
diff --git a/win/tty/topl.c b/win/tty/topl.c
index 809937664..e4bbdc509 100644
--- a/win/tty/topl.c
+++ b/win/tty/topl.c
@@ -582,8 +582,9 @@ msghistory_snapshot(boolean purge) /* clear message history buffer
 
 /* release memory allocated to message history snapshot */
 static void
-free_msghistory_snapshot(boolean purged) /* True: took history's pointers,
-                                            False: just cloned them */
+free_msghistory_snapshot(
+    boolean purged) /* True: took history's pointers,
+                     * False: just cloned them */
 {
     if (snapshot_mesgs) {
         /* snapshot pointers are no longer in use */
diff --git a/win/tty/wintty.c b/win/tty/wintty.c
index 566523ace..4f95f7e53 100644
--- a/win/tty/wintty.c
+++ b/win/tty/wintty.c
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ struct window_procs tty_procs = {
      | WC2_HILITE_STATUS | WC2_HITPOINTBAR | WC2_FLUSH_STATUS
      | WC2_RESET_STATUS
 #endif
-     | WC2_DARKGRAY | WC2_SUPPRESS_HIST | WC2_STATUSLINES),
+     | WC2_DARKGRAY | WC2_SUPPRESS_HIST | WC2_URGENT_MESG | WC2_STATUSLINES),
 #ifdef TEXTCOLOR
-    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},   /* color availability */
+    {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1}, /* color availability */
 #else
     {1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1},
 #endif
@@ -2662,7 +2662,13 @@ tty_putstr(winid window, int attr, const char *str)
 
     switch (cw->type) {
     case NHW_MESSAGE: {
-        int suppress_history = (attr & ATR_NOHISTORY);
+        int suppress_history = (attr & ATR_NOHISTORY),
+            urgent_message = (attr & ATR_URGENT);
+
+        /* if message is designated 'urgent' don't suppress it if user has
+           typed ESC at --More-- prompt when dismissing an earlier message */
+        if (urgent_message)
+            cw->flags &= ~WIN_STOP;
 
         /* in case we ever support display attributes for topline
            messages, clear flag mask leaving only display attr */