diff --git a/code/hud/hudtarget.cpp b/code/hud/hudtarget.cpp
index 40f9ed04db2..64c62e8a5cf 100644
--- a/code/hud/hudtarget.cpp
+++ b/code/hud/hudtarget.cpp
@@ -4751,7 +4751,7 @@ int hud_communications_state(ship *sp, bool for_death_scream)
 	}
 
 	// Goober5000 - check for scrambled communications
-	if (emp_active_local() || sp->flags[Ship::Ship_Flags::Scramble_messages])
+	if ((emp_active_local() && !sp->flags[Ship::Ship_Flags::EMP_doesnt_scramble_messages]) || sp->flags[Ship::Ship_Flags::Scramble_messages])
 		return COMM_SCRAMBLED;
 
 	return COMM_OK;
diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.cpp b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
index 136cdc0126b..3506f3c6bf8 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.cpp
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
@@ -40553,14 +40553,14 @@ SCP_vector<sexp_help_struct> Sexp_help = {
 
 	//phreak
 	{ OP_SCRAMBLE_MESSAGES, "scramble-messages\r\n"
-		"\tCauses messages to be sent as if the player has sustained communications subsystem or EMP damage.  This effect can be reversed using unscramble-messages.  Takes zero or more arguments.\r\n"
-		"\tAll (Optional):\tName of the ship for which to scramble messages.  If no ships are specified, message scrambling will be turned on for all messages the player receives.\r\n"
+		"\tCauses messages to be sent or received as if the player had sustained communications subsystem or EMP damage.  This effect can be reversed using unscramble-messages.  Takes zero or more arguments.\r\n"
+		"\tAll (Optional):\tName of the ship for which to scramble messages.  If no ships are specified, message scrambling will be turned on for the player.\r\n"
 	},
 
 	//phreak
 	{ OP_UNSCRAMBLE_MESSAGES, "unscramble-messages\r\n"
-		"\tUndoes the effects of scramble-messages, causing messages to be sent clearly.  Takes zero or more arguments.\r\n"
-		"\tAll (Optional):\tName of the ship for which to scramble messages.  If no ships are specified, message scrambling will be turned on for all messages the player receives.\r\n"
+		"\tUndoes the effects of scramble-messages, causing messages to be sent or received clearly (conditions permitting).  Takes zero or more arguments.\r\n"
+		"\tAll (Optional):\tName of the ship for which to scramble messages.  If no ships are specified, message scrambling will be turned off for the player.\r\n"
 	},
 
 	{ OP_CUTSCENES_SET_CUTSCENE_BARS, "set-cutscene-bars\r\n"
diff --git a/code/ship/ship.cpp b/code/ship/ship.cpp
index c869fbffdd8..95d982b12fa 100644
--- a/code/ship/ship.cpp
+++ b/code/ship/ship.cpp
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ const int num_ai_tgt_weapon_info_flags = sizeof(ai_tgt_weapon_flags) / sizeof(fl
 
 SCP_vector <ai_target_priority> Ai_tp_list;
 
-//	Constant for flag,				Name of flag,				In flags or flags2
+//	Constant for flag,							Name of flag
 ship_flag_name Ship_flag_names[] = {
 	{ Ship_Flags::Vaporize,						"vaporize" },
 	{ Ship_Flags::Warp_broken,					"break-warp" },
@@ -620,6 +620,7 @@ ship_flag_name Ship_flag_names[] = {
 	{ Ship_Flags::No_builtin_messages,			"no-builtin-messages"},
 	{ Ship_Flags::Scramble_messages,			"scramble-messages"},
 	{ Ship_Flags::Maneuver_despite_engines,		"maneuver-despite-engines" },
+	{ Ship_Flags::EMP_doesnt_scramble_messages,	"emp-doesn't-scramble-messages" },
 };
 
 ship_flag_description Ship_flag_descriptions[] = {
@@ -655,8 +656,9 @@ ship_flag_description Ship_flag_descriptions[] = {
 	{ Ship_Flags::No_death_scream,				"Ship will never send a death message when destroyed."},
 	{ Ship_Flags::Always_death_scream,			"Ship will always send a death message when destroyed."},
 	{ Ship_Flags::No_builtin_messages,			"Ship will not send any persona messages."},
-	{ Ship_Flags::Scramble_messages,			"All messages sent from this ship will appear scrambled, as if the ship had been hit by an EMP."},
+	{ Ship_Flags::Scramble_messages,			"All messages sent from or received by this ship will appear scrambled, as if the ship had been hit by an EMP." },
 	{ Ship_Flags::Maneuver_despite_engines,		"Ship can maneuver even if its engines are disabled or disrupted" },
+	{ Ship_Flags::EMP_doesnt_scramble_messages, "EMP does not affect whether messages appear scrambled when sent from or received by this ship." },
 };
 
 extern const size_t Num_ship_flag_names = sizeof(Ship_flag_names) / sizeof(ship_flag_name);
diff --git a/code/ship/ship_flags.h b/code/ship/ship_flags.h
index b16e5c96a8c..4ba76e9545b 100644
--- a/code/ship/ship_flags.h
+++ b/code/ship/ship_flags.h
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ namespace Ship {
 		No_thrusters,				// The E - Thrusters on this ship are not rendered.
 		Ship_locked,				// Karajorma - Prevents the player from changing the ship class on loadout screen
 		Weapons_locked,				// Karajorma - Prevents the player from changing the weapons on the ship on the loadout screen
-		Scramble_messages,			// Goober5000 - all messages sent from this ship appear scrambled
+		Scramble_messages,			// Goober5000 - all messages sent from or received by this ship appear scrambled
+		EMP_doesnt_scramble_messages,	// Goober5000 - when EMP is active, messages will not have the scramble effect
         No_secondary_lockon,        // zookeeper - secondary lock-on disabled
         No_disabled_self_destruct,  // Goober5000 - ship will not self-destruct after 90 seconds if engines or weapons destroyed (c.f. ai_maybe_self_destruct)
 		Subsystem_movement_locked,	// The_E -- Rotating subsystems are locked in place.