diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 6f15f14..4256e92 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("xban_wl", {
 	end,
 })
 
+
 local function check_temp_bans()
 	minetest.after(60, check_temp_bans)
 	local to_rm = { }
@@ -374,6 +375,31 @@ local function load_db()
 	end
 end
 
+minetest.register_chatcommand("xban_cleanup", {
+	description = "Removes all non-banned entries from the xban db",
+	privs = { server=true },
+	func = function(name, params)
+		local rm_count = 0
+
+		local i = 1
+		while i <= #db do
+			if not db[i].banned then
+				-- not banned, remove from db
+				table.remove(db, i)
+				rm_count = rm_count + 1
+			else
+				-- banned, hold entry back
+				i = i + 1
+			end
+		end
+
+		-- save immediately
+		save_db()
+
+		return true, "removed " .. rm_count .. " entries, new db entry-count: " .. #db
+	end,
+})
+
 minetest.register_on_shutdown(save_db)
 minetest.after(SAVE_INTERVAL, save_db)
 load_db()