diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
index 3455ab9d..2514f031 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculator.java
@@ -407,14 +407,20 @@ public int getPriority(final ProtectedRegion region) {
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public <V> V getEffectiveFlag(final ProtectedRegion region, Flag<V> flag, @Nullable LocalPlayer player) {
-        // The global region normally does not prevent building so
-        // PASSTHROUGH has to be ALLOW, except when people use the global
-        // region as a whitelist
-        if (region == globalRegion && flag == DefaultFlag.PASSTHROUGH) {
-            if (region.hasMembersOrOwners()) {
+        if (region == globalRegion) {
+            if (flag == DefaultFlag.PASSTHROUGH) {
+                // Has members/owners -> the global region acts like
+                // a regular region without PASSTHROUGH
+                if (region.hasMembersOrOwners()) {
+                    return null;
+                } else {
+                    return (V) State.ALLOW;
+                }
+
+            } else if (flag == DefaultFlag.BUILD) {
+                // Legacy behavior -> we can't let people change BUILD on
+                // the global region
                 return null;
-            } else {
-                return (V) State.ALLOW;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java b/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
index 2837cf00..9a116086 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/protection/FlagValueCalculatorTest.java
@@ -1959,4 +1959,38 @@ public void testGetEffectiveFlagInheritanceAndDifferingGroupsMemberOnParentFlagO
         assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(region, DefaultFlag.FAREWELL_MESSAGE, null), equalTo("everyone"));
         assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(region, DefaultFlag.GREET_MESSAGE, null), equalTo(null));
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testGetEffectiveFlagGlobalRegionBuild() throws Exception {
+        MockApplicableRegionSet mock = new MockApplicableRegionSet();
+
+        ProtectedRegion global = mock.global();
+
+        FlagValueCalculator result = mock.getFlagCalculator();
+        assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(global, DefaultFlag.BUILD, null), equalTo(null));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testGetEffectiveFlagGlobalRegionBuildDeny() throws Exception {
+        MockApplicableRegionSet mock = new MockApplicableRegionSet();
+
+        ProtectedRegion global = mock.global();
+        global.setFlag(DefaultFlag.BUILD, State.DENY);
+
+        FlagValueCalculator result = mock.getFlagCalculator();
+        // Cannot let users override BUILD on GLOBAL
+        assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(global, DefaultFlag.BUILD, null), equalTo(null));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testGetEffectiveFlagGlobalRegionBuildAllow() throws Exception {
+        MockApplicableRegionSet mock = new MockApplicableRegionSet();
+
+        ProtectedRegion global = mock.global();
+        global.setFlag(DefaultFlag.BUILD, State.ALLOW);
+
+        FlagValueCalculator result = mock.getFlagCalculator();
+        // Cannot let users override BUILD on GLOBAL
+        assertThat(result.getEffectiveFlag(global, DefaultFlag.BUILD, null), equalTo(null));
+    }
 }
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