diff --git a/doc/fixes37.0 b/doc/fixes37.0
index 7cc2fb7a2..a1b55234b 100644
--- a/doc/fixes37.0
+++ b/doc/fixes37.0
@@ -748,6 +748,8 @@ when two or more shops share a wall and hero uses Passes_walls to carry an
 redo the unpaid_cost fix to handle shop items inside hero-owned container
 flyers shouldn't fall on arrival when going down holes or trap doors
 change movement keys and some special keys into extended commands
+"WHAMMM!!!" feedback when kicking a door suggests noise so if hero is deaf an
+	alternate message should be given
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/dokick.c b/src/dokick.c
index e7ba06dbf..8f9b81255 100644
--- a/src/dokick.c
+++ b/src/dokick.c
@@ -1296,7 +1296,10 @@ dokick(void)
         if (Blind)
             feel_location(x, y); /* we know we hit it */
         exercise(A_STR, TRUE);
-        pline("WHAMMM!!!");
+        /* note: this used to be unconditional "WHAMMM!!!" but that has a
+           fairly strong connotation of noise that a deaf hero shouldn't
+           hear; we've kept the extra 'm's and one of the extra '!'s */
+        pline("%s!!", (Deaf || !rn2(3)) ? "Thwack" : "Whammm");
         if (in_town(x, y))
             for (mtmp = fmon; mtmp; mtmp = mtmp->nmon) {
                 if (DEADMONSTER(mtmp))