diff --git a/doc/fixes34.3 b/doc/fixes34.3
index e459b02d8..27dab1b01 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.3
+++ b/doc/fixes34.3
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ win32gui: you couldn't specify an alignment in defaults.nh and have it stick
 General New Features
 --------------------
 bones file compatibility info is now written into the dat/options file
+extend autodig to work downwards via '>'
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific New Features
diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index 939356cf4..4b07de7cf 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -760,8 +760,14 @@ dodown()
 		if (!(trap = t_at(u.ux,u.uy)) ||
 			(trap->ttyp != TRAPDOOR && trap->ttyp != HOLE)
 			|| !Can_fall_thru(&u.uz) || !trap->tseen) {
-			You_cant("go down here.");
-			return(0);
+
+			if (flags.autodig && !flags.nopick &&
+				uwep && is_pick(uwep)) {
+				return use_pick_axe2(uwep);
+			} else {
+				You_cant("go down here.");
+				return(0);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	if(u.ustuck) {