diff --git a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/commands/NPCCommands.java b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/commands/NPCCommands.java
index 4cbf28b2d..491c17ea1 100644
--- a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/commands/NPCCommands.java
+++ b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/commands/NPCCommands.java
@@ -302,6 +302,21 @@ public class NPCCommands {
         }
     }
 
+    @Command(
+            aliases = { "npc" },
+            usage = "chunkload",
+            desc = "Toggle the NPC forcing chunks to stay loaded",
+            modifiers = { "chunkload", "cload" },
+            min = 1,
+            max = 1,
+            permission = "citizens.npc.chunkload")
+    @Requirements(selected = true, ownership = true)
+    public void chunkload(CommandContext args, CommandSender sender, NPC npc) {
+        boolean enabled = !npc.data().get(NPC.KEEP_CHUNK_LOADED_METADATA, Setting.KEEP_CHUNKS_LOADED.asBoolean());
+        npc.data().set(NPC.KEEP_CHUNK_LOADED_METADATA, enabled);
+        Messaging.sendTr(sender, enabled ? Messages.CHUNKLOAD_SET : Messages.CHUNKLOAD_UNSET, npc.getName());
+    }
+
     @Command(
             aliases = { "npc" },
             usage = "collidable",
diff --git a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/CitizensNPC.java b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/CitizensNPC.java
index 224190e63..08310cf96 100644
--- a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/CitizensNPC.java
+++ b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/CitizensNPC.java
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public class CitizensNPC extends AbstractNPC {
         }
         NPCDespawnEvent event = new NPCDespawnEvent(this, reason);
         if (reason == DespawnReason.CHUNK_UNLOAD) {
-            event.setCancelled(Setting.KEEP_CHUNKS_LOADED.asBoolean());
+            event.setCancelled(data().get(NPC.KEEP_CHUNK_LOADED_METADATA, Setting.KEEP_CHUNKS_LOADED.asBoolean()));
         }
         Bukkit.getPluginManager().callEvent(event);
         if (event.isCancelled() && reason != DespawnReason.DEATH) {
diff --git a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/util/Messages.java b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/util/Messages.java
index 3de0f4fa3..47afb74b0 100644
--- a/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/util/Messages.java
+++ b/main/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/util/Messages.java
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ public class Messages {
     public static final String CHAT_TRIGGER_MESSAGE_ADDED = "citizens.editors.waypoints.triggers.chat.message-added";
     public static final String CHAT_TRIGGER_PROMPT = "citizens.editors.waypoints.triggers.chat.prompt";
     public static final String CHAT_TRIGGER_RADIUS_SET = "citizens.editors.waypoints.triggers.chat.radius-set";
+    public static final String CHUNKLOAD_SET = "citizens.commands.npc.chunkload.set";
+    public static final String CHUNKLOAD_UNSET = "citizens.commands.npc.chunkload.unset";
     public static final String CITIZENS_IMPLEMENTATION_DISABLED = "citizens.changed-implementation";
     public static final String CITIZENS_INCOMPATIBLE = "citizens.notifications.incompatible-version";
     public static final String CITIZENS_INVALID_COMMAND_CLASS = "citizens.commands.invalid.class";
diff --git a/main/src/main/resources/messages_en.properties b/main/src/main/resources/messages_en.properties
index 469f5052f..1b0eb3b22 100644
--- a/main/src/main/resources/messages_en.properties
+++ b/main/src/main/resources/messages_en.properties
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ citizens.commands.npc.cat.sitting-stop=[[{0}]] stopped sitting.
 citizens.commands.npc.cat.lying-start=[[{0}]] started lying down.
 citizens.commands.npc.cat.lying-stop=[[{0}]] stopped lying down.
 citizens.commands.npc.cat.type-set=Type set to [[{0}]].
+citizens.commands.npc.chunkload.set=[[{0}]] will now force chunks to be loaded.
+citizens.commands.npc.chunkload.unset=[[{0}]] will no longer force chunks to be loaded.
 citizens.commands.npc.collidable.set=[[{0}]] will now collide with entities.
 citizens.commands.npc.collidable.unset=[[{0}]] will no longer collide with entities.
 citizens.commands.npc.command.none-added=No commands have been added.