diff --git a/install/data/defaults.json b/install/data/defaults.json
index 397d1704e7..fefa23b8ea 100644
--- a/install/data/defaults.json
+++ b/install/data/defaults.json
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
     "upvotesPerUserPerDay": 6,
     "downvotesPerDay": 10,
     "downvotesPerUserPerDay": 3,
+    "min:rep:chat": 0,
     "min:rep:downvote": 0,
     "min:rep:upvote": 0,
     "min:rep:flag": 0,
diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/admin/settings/reputation.json b/public/language/en-GB/admin/settings/reputation.json
index 4140161eb8..ae502f1edd 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/admin/settings/reputation.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/admin/settings/reputation.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 	"min-rep-downvote": "Minimum reputation to downvote posts",
 	"downvotes-per-day": "Downvotes per day (set to 0 for unlimited downvotes)",
 	"downvotes-per-user-per-day": "Downvotes per user per day (set to 0 for unlimited downvotes)",
+	"min-rep-chat": "Minimum reputation to send chat messages",
 	"min-rep-flag": "Minimum reputation to flag posts",
 	"min-rep-website": "Minimum reputation to add \"Website\" to user profile",
 	"min-rep-aboutme": "Minimum reputation to add \"About me\" to user profile",
diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/error.json b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
index e641d741a0..957049d43b 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/error.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@
 	"already-voting-for-this-post": "You have already voted for this post.",
 	"reputation-system-disabled": "Reputation system is disabled.",
 	"downvoting-disabled": "Downvoting is disabled",
+	"not-enough-reputation-to-chat": "You need %1 reputation to chat",
 	"not-enough-reputation-to-upvote": "You need %1 reputation to upvote",
 	"not-enough-reputation-to-downvote": "You need %1 reputation to downvote",
 	"not-enough-reputation-to-flag": "You need %1 reputation to flag this post",
diff --git a/src/messaging/index.js b/src/messaging/index.js
index 0526cab7ae..6ad192ef7f 100644
--- a/src/messaging/index.js
+++ b/src/messaging/index.js
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ Messaging.canMessageUser = async (uid, toUid) => {
 	const [exists, canChat] = await Promise.all([
 		user.exists(toUid),
 		privileges.global.can('chat', uid),
+		checkReputation(uid),
 	]);
 
 	if (!exists) {
@@ -232,12 +233,16 @@ Messaging.canMessageRoom = async (uid, roomId) => {
 		throw new Error('[[error:chat-disabled]]');
 	}
 
-	const inRoom = await Messaging.isUserInRoom(uid, roomId);
+	const [inRoom, canChat] = await Promise.all([
+		Messaging.isUserInRoom(uid, roomId),
+		privileges.global.can('chat', uid),
+		checkReputation(uid),
+	]);
+
 	if (!inRoom) {
 		throw new Error('[[error:not-in-room]]');
 	}
 
-	const canChat = await privileges.global.can('chat', uid);
 	if (!canChat) {
 		throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
 	}
@@ -248,6 +253,15 @@ Messaging.canMessageRoom = async (uid, roomId) => {
 	});
 };
 
+async function checkReputation(uid) {
+	if (meta.config['min:rep:chat'] > 0) {
+		const reputation = await user.getUserField(uid, 'reputation');
+		if (meta.config['min:rep:chat'] > reputation) {
+			throw new Error(`[[error:not-enough-reputation-to-chat, ${meta.config['min:rep:chat']}]]`);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 Messaging.hasPrivateChat = async (uid, withUid) => {
 	if (parseInt(uid, 10) === parseInt(withUid, 10)) {
 		return 0;
diff --git a/src/views/admin/settings/reputation.tpl b/src/views/admin/settings/reputation.tpl
index 0d06b7cc3a..e82843d8f3 100644
--- a/src/views/admin/settings/reputation.tpl
+++ b/src/views/admin/settings/reputation.tpl
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@
 	<div class="col-sm-2 col-xs-12 settings-header">[[admin/settings/reputation:thresholds]]</div>
 	<div class="col-sm-10 col-xs-12">
 		<form>
+			<div class="form-group">
+				<label for="min:rep:chat">[[admin/settings/reputation:min-rep-chat]]</label>
+				<input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="0" data-field="min:rep:chat" id="min:rep:chat">
+			</div>
 			<div class="form-group">
 				<label for="min:rep:upvote">[[admin/settings/reputation:min-rep-upvote]]</label>
 				<input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="0" data-field="min:rep:upvote" id="min:rep:upvote">