diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_maps/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_maps/init.lua
index 2a658582..0056188e 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_maps/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_maps/init.lua
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ minetest.register_craft_predict(on_craft)
 
 local maps = {}
 local huds = {}
+local light = {}
 
 minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
 	local map_def = {
@@ -445,6 +446,7 @@ end)
 
 minetest.register_on_leaveplayer(function(player)
 	maps[player] = nil
+	light[player] = nil
 	huds[player] = nil
 end)
 
@@ -513,8 +515,15 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 				end
 			end
 
-			if texture ~= maps[player] then
-				player:hud_change(hud.map, "text", "[combine:140x140:0,0=mcl_maps_map_background.png:6,6=" .. texture)
+			local light_level
+			local light_level_overlay = ""
+			if nil ~= pos then -- do not crash while joining game
+				light_level = minetest.get_node_light(pos) or 0 -- can be nil somehow
+				light_level_overlay = "^[colorize:black:" .. 255 - (light_level * 17)
+			end
+
+			if texture ~= maps[player] or light_level ~= light[player] then
+				player:hud_change(hud.map, "text", "[combine:140x140:0,0=mcl_maps_map_background.png:6,6=" .. texture .. light_level_overlay)
 				if nil == maps[player] then
 					-- show tmp message if player
 					-- did not wield a map before
@@ -523,6 +532,7 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 						S("Right click on a banner to add a colored marker.")
 					)
 				end
+				light[player] = light_level
 				maps[player] = texture
 			end
 
@@ -578,7 +588,7 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 				end
 			end
 
-			player:hud_change(hud.marker, "text", marker)
+			player:hud_change(hud.marker, "text", marker .. light_level_overlay)
 			player:hud_change(hud.marker, "offset", {x = (6 - 140 / 2 + pos.x - minp.x) * 2, y = (6 - 140 + maxp.z - pos.z) * 2})
 		elseif maps[player] then
 			player:hud_change(hud.map, "text", "blank.png")