diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 000335e..181f6b4 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ dofile(creative_regions.modpath.."/arena.lua")
 dofile(creative_regions.modpath.."/vehicles.lua")
 
 
-function creative_regions:update_player(player)
+function creative_regions:update_player(player, initialize)
 	local name = player:get_player_name()
 	local pos = vector.round(player:get_pos())
 
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ function creative_regions:update_player(player)
 	local areas_guest = false
 	local areas_open = false
 	local areas_individual_override = false
+	initialize = initialize or 0
 
 	-- skip for players with protection_bypass
 	if minetest.check_player_privs(name, { protection_bypass=true }) then
@@ -98,8 +99,8 @@ function creative_regions:update_player(player)
 	-- did the regions change? update
 	-- ToDo: Update on privileges changed
 	local player_last_active_region_str = pmeta:get_string("creative_regions.active_regions") or ""
-	if player_active_region_str ~= player_last_active_region_str then
-		creative_regions:player_enter_region(player, new_privs_table)
+	if player_active_region_str ~= player_last_active_region_str or initialize then
+		creative_regions:player_enter_region(player, new_privs_table, initialize)
 		pmeta:set_string("creative_regions.active_regions", player_active_region_str)
 	end
 
@@ -109,6 +110,10 @@ end
 
 creative_regions.load_regions()
 
+minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
+	creative_regions:update_player(player, 1)
+end)
+
 local timer = 0
 minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 	timer = timer + dtime
diff --git a/player.lua b/player.lua
index 115b266..41a3b51 100644
--- a/player.lua
+++ b/player.lua
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ function creative_regions:restore_player_inventory(player, listname)
 	end
 end
 
-function creative_regions:player_enter_region(player, new_privs_table)
+function creative_regions:player_enter_region(player, new_privs_table, initialize)
 	local name = player:get_player_name()
 	local has_creative = minetest.check_player_privs(name, {creative=true})
 	local has_arena = minetest.check_player_privs(name, {arena=true})
+	initialize = initialize or 0
 	
 	local old_mode = nil
 	if has_arena then
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ function creative_regions:player_enter_region(player, new_privs_table)
 		end
 	end
 
-	if new_mode ~= old_mode then
+	if new_mode ~= old_mode or initialize then
 
 		if old_mode == "arena" then
 			-- leaving arena (alive)