diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index b6eed5752..1118f0ae6 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1388,8 +1388,8 @@ static void G_DoLoadLevel(void)
   // Rewind
   G_SetRewindCountdown(0);
 
-  // Clear messages
-  ST_ClearMessages();
+  // Hide messages (but don't delete them outright)
+  ST_HideMessages();
 
   // Minimap
   if (minimap_was_on) {
diff --git a/src/st_widgets.c b/src/st_widgets.c
index 34bc48e85..edec13c46 100644
--- a/src/st_widgets.c
+++ b/src/st_widgets.c
@@ -279,6 +279,19 @@ void ST_ClearMessages(void)
     message_index = 0;
 }
 
+void ST_HideMessages(void)
+{
+    linkedmessage_t *m = message_list_head;
+
+    while (m)
+    {
+        m->duration_left = 0;
+        m = m->next;
+    }
+
+    players[consoleplayer].secretmessage = ""; // Clear secret message too
+}
+
 // [Nugget] -----------------------------------------------------------------/
 
 static void UpdateMessage(sbe_widget_t *widget, player_t *player)
diff --git a/src/st_widgets.h b/src/st_widgets.h
index 2196f52d9..2f8849d2a 100644
--- a/src/st_widgets.h
+++ b/src/st_widgets.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ extern boolean sp_chat;
 boolean ST_GetChatOn(void);
 int ST_GetNumMessageLines(void);
 void ST_ClearMessages(void);
+void ST_HideMessages(void);
 
 // [Nugget] =================================================================/