diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 73ac6bde9..c7a259674 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ DFHack Future
         burial:  sets all unowned coffins to allow burial ("-pets" to allow pets too)
         fix-ster:  changes fertility/sterility of animals or dwarves
         view-item-info: adds information and customisable descriptions to item viewscreens
+        warn-starving:  check for starving, thirsty, or very drowsy units and pause with warning if any are found
     New tweaks
     Fixes
         Plugins with vmethod hooks can now be reloaded on OS X
diff --git a/Readme.rst b/Readme.rst
index 3870635ce..eb03ea813 100644
--- a/Readme.rst
+++ b/Readme.rst
@@ -2629,6 +2629,12 @@ of items.  Individual descriptions can be added or overridden by a similar
 script ``raw/scripts/more-item-descriptions.lua``.  Both work as sparse lists,
 so missing items simply go undescribed if not defined in the fallback.
 
+warn-starving
+=============
+If any (live) units are starving, very thirsty, or very drowsy, the game will
+be paused and a warning shown.  Use with the ``repeat`` command for regular
+checks.
+
 ========
 modtools
 ========
diff --git a/scripts/warn-starving.lua b/scripts/warn-starving.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16748a0a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/warn-starving.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+-- Pauses the game with a warning if a creature is starving, dehydrated, or very drowsy.
+-- By Meneth32, and PeridexisErrant
+
+starvingUnits = starvingUnits or {}
+dehydratedUnits = dehydratedUnits or {}
+sleepyUnits = sleepyUnits or {}
+
+local units = df.global.world.units.active
+
+local function findRaceCaste(unit)
+    local rraw = df.creature_raw.find(unit.race)
+    return rraw, safe_index(rraw, 'caste', unit.caste)
+end
+
+local function getSexString(sex)
+    local sexStr = ""
+    if sex==0 then sexStr=string.char(12)
+    elseif sex==1 then sexStr=string.char(11)
+    end
+    return string.char(40)..sexStr..string.char(41)
+end
+
+local function nameOrSpeciesAndNumber(unit)
+    if unit.name.has_name then
+        return dfhack.TranslateName(dfhack.units.getVisibleName(unit))..' '..getSexString(unit.sex),true
+    else
+        return 'Unit #'..unit.id..' ('..df.creature_raw.find(unit.race).caste[unit.caste].caste_name[0]..' '..getSexString(unit.sex)..')',false
+    end
+end
+
+local function checkVariable(var, limit, description, map, unit)
+    local rraw = findRaceCaste(unit)
+    local species = rraw.name[0]
+    local name = nameOrSpeciesAndNumber(unit)
+    if var > limit then
+        if not map[unit.id] then
+            map[unit.id] = true
+            return species.." "..name.." is "..description.."!"
+        end
+    else
+        map[unit.id] = false
+    end
+end
+
+local function doCheck()
+    local msg
+    for i=#units-1, 0, -1 do
+        local unit = units[i]
+        local rraw = findRaceCaste(unit)
+        if rraw and not unit.flags1.dead and not dfhack.units.isOpposedToLife(unit) then
+            msg = checkVariable(unit.counters2.hunger_timer, 75000, 'starving', starvingUnits, unit)
+            msg = msg or checkVariable(unit.counters2.thirst_timer, 50000, 'dehydrated', dehydratedUnits, unit)
+            msg = msg or checkVariable(unit.counters2.sleepiness_timer, 150000, 'very drowsy', sleepyUnits, unit)
+        end
+    end
+    if msg then
+        df.global.pause_state = true
+        dfhack.gui.showPopupAnnouncement(msg, 7, true)
+    end
+end
+
+doCheck()