diff --git a/dat/themerms.lua b/dat/themerms.lua
index 0004ff36a..e8f35352e 100644
--- a/dat/themerms.lua
+++ b/dat/themerms.lua
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ themerooms = {
                                   if (percent(50)) then
                                      local mons = { "M", "V", "L", "Z" };
                                      shuffle(mons);
-                                     des.monster(mons[1], 0,0);
+                                     des.monster({ class = mons[1], x=0,y=0, waiting = 1 });
                                   else
                                      des.object({ id = "corpse", montype = "@", coord = {0,0} });
                                   end
diff --git a/include/sp_lev.h b/include/sp_lev.h
index b27adb874..b989b709e 100644
--- a/include/sp_lev.h
+++ b/include/sp_lev.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ typedef struct {
     xchar x, y, class, appear;
     schar peaceful, asleep;
     short female, invis, cancelled, revived, avenge, fleeing, blinded,
-        paralyzed, stunned, confused;
+        paralyzed, stunned, confused, waiting;
     long seentraps;
     short has_invent;
 } monster;
diff --git a/src/sp_lev.c b/src/sp_lev.c
index 8812b2ae3..2105ba80e 100755
--- a/src/sp_lev.c
+++ b/src/sp_lev.c
@@ -2028,7 +2028,9 @@ create_monster(monster* m, struct mkroom* croom)
             mtmp->mflee = 1;
             mtmp->mfleetim = (m->fleeing % 127);
         }
-
+        if (m->waiting) {
+            mtmp->mstrategy |= STRAT_WAITFORU;
+        }
         if (m->has_invent) {
             discard_minvent(mtmp, TRUE);
             invent_carrying_monster = mtmp;
@@ -3026,6 +3028,7 @@ lspo_monster(lua_State* L)
     tmpmons.confused = 0;
     tmpmons.seentraps = 0;
     tmpmons.has_invent = 0;
+    tmpmons.waiting = 0;
 
     if (argc == 1 && lua_type(L, 1) == LUA_TSTRING) {
         const char *paramstr = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
@@ -3089,6 +3092,7 @@ lspo_monster(lua_State* L)
         tmpmons.paralyzed = get_table_int_opt(L, "paralyzed", 0);
         tmpmons.stunned = get_table_int_opt(L, "stunned", 0);
         tmpmons.confused = get_table_int_opt(L, "confused", 0);
+        tmpmons.waiting = get_table_int_opt(L, "waiting", 0);
         tmpmons.seentraps = 0; /* TODO: list of trap names to bitfield */
         tmpmons.has_invent = 0;