diff --git a/src/lib/player/player.c b/src/lib/player/player.c
index dfec7c06..c218f355 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/player.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/player.c
@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ command(void)
     now = time(NULL);
     update_timeused(now);
     natp = getnatp(player->cnum);
+    if (!gamehours(player->curup))
+	if (natp->nat_stat != STAT_GOD) {
+	    pr("Empire hours restriction in force\n");
+	    return 0;
+	}
     if ((natp->nat_stat == STAT_ACTIVE || natp->nat_stat == STAT_SANCT)
 	&& natp->nat_timeused > m_m_p_d * 60) {
 	pr("Max minutes per day limit exceeded.\n");