diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGStatusNotifier.cs b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGStatusNotifier.cs
index 61c6a30113..1fa4dd6ba0 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGStatusNotifier.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Friends/HGStatusNotifier.cs
@@ -48,15 +48,18 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Friends
                     if (Util.ParseUniversalUserIdentifier(ids[0], out friendID, out tmp, out tmp, out tmp, out tmp))
                     {
                         string friendsServerURI = m_FriendsModule.UserManagementModule.GetUserServerURL(friendID, "FriendsServerURI");
-                        HGFriendsServicesConnector fConn = new HGFriendsServicesConnector(friendsServerURI);
-
-                        List<UUID> friendsOnline = fConn.StatusNotification(ids, userID, online);
-
-                        if (online && friendsOnline.Count > 0)
+                        if (friendsServerURI != string.Empty)
                         {
-                            IClientAPI client = m_FriendsModule.LocateClientObject(userID);
-                            if (client != null)
-                                client.SendAgentOnline(friendsOnline.ToArray());
+                            HGFriendsServicesConnector fConn = new HGFriendsServicesConnector(friendsServerURI);
+
+                            List<UUID> friendsOnline = fConn.StatusNotification(ids, userID, online);
+
+                            if (online && friendsOnline.Count > 0)
+                            {
+                                IClientAPI client = m_FriendsModule.LocateClientObject(userID);
+                                if (client != null)
+                                    client.SendAgentOnline(friendsOnline.ToArray());
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/bin/OpenSim.ini.example b/bin/OpenSim.ini.example
index 2c85f9db18..50366a675d 100755
--- a/bin/OpenSim.ini.example
+++ b/bin/OpenSim.ini.example
@@ -194,6 +194,15 @@
     ; region_manager_is_god = false
     ; parcel_owner_is_god = true
 
+    ;; More control over permissions
+    ;; This is definitely not SL!
+    ; Provides a simple control for land owners to give build rights to specific avatars
+    ; in publicly accessible parcels that disallow object creation in general. 
+    ; Owners specific avatars by adding them to the Access List of the parcel
+    ; without having to use the Groups feature
+    ; simple_build_permissions = false
+
+
     ;; Default script engine to use. Currently, we only have XEngine
     ; DefaultScriptEngine = "XEngine"
 
diff --git a/bin/OpenSimDefaults.ini b/bin/OpenSimDefaults.ini
index f4e3d9eb4f..8be24270ee 100644
--- a/bin/OpenSimDefaults.ini
+++ b/bin/OpenSimDefaults.ini
@@ -260,6 +260,14 @@
     ; Default value is all
     ; allowed_script_editors = all
 
+    ; Provides a simple control for land owners to give build rights to specific avatars
+    ; in publicly accessible parcels that disallow object creation in general. 
+    ; Owners specific avatars by adding them to the Access List of the parcel
+    ; without having to use the Groups feature
+    ; Disabled by default
+    ; simple_build_permissions = False
+
+
     ; ##
     ; ## SCRIPT ENGINE
     ; ##