diff --git a/src/lang/english.txt b/src/lang/english.txt
index 0589ec4f11..6f3e5778a7 100644
--- a/src/lang/english.txt
+++ b/src/lang/english.txt
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ STR_NEWS_MERGER_TAKEOVER_TITLE                                  :{BIG_FONT}{BLAC
 STR_PRESIDENT_NAME_MANAGER                                      :{BLACK}{PRESIDENT_NAME}{}(Manager)
 
 STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN                                               :{BLACK}{BIG_FONT}{RAW_STRING} sponsored construction of new town {TOWN}!
+STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN_UNSPONSORED                                   :{BLACK}{BIG_FONT}A new town called {TOWN} has been constructed!
 
 STR_NEWS_INDUSTRY_CONSTRUCTION                                  :{BIG_FONT}{BLACK}New {STRING} under construction near {TOWN}!
 STR_NEWS_INDUSTRY_PLANTED                                       :{BIG_FONT}{BLACK}New {STRING} being planted near {TOWN}!
diff --git a/src/town_cmd.cpp b/src/town_cmd.cpp
index 92a3991ba9..6ebf4e2987 100644
--- a/src/town_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/town_cmd.cpp
@@ -1798,15 +1798,21 @@ CommandCost CmdFoundTown(TileIndex tile, DoCommandFlag flags, uint32 p1, uint32
 		if (_game_mode != GM_EDITOR) {
 			/* 't' can't be NULL since 'random' is false outside scenedit */
 			assert(!random);
-			char company_name[MAX_LENGTH_COMPANY_NAME_CHARS * MAX_CHAR_LENGTH];
-			SetDParam(0, _current_company);
-			GetString(company_name, STR_COMPANY_NAME, lastof(company_name));
 
-			char *cn = stredup(company_name);
-			SetDParamStr(0, cn);
-			SetDParam(1, t->index);
+			if (_current_company == OWNER_DEITY) {
+				SetDParam(0, t->index);
+				AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN_UNSPONSORED, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile);
+			} else {
+				char company_name[MAX_LENGTH_COMPANY_NAME_CHARS * MAX_CHAR_LENGTH];
+				SetDParam(0, _current_company);
+				GetString(company_name, STR_COMPANY_NAME, lastof(company_name));
 
-			AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile, cn);
+				char *cn = stredup(company_name);
+				SetDParamStr(0, cn);
+				SetDParam(1, t->index);
+
+				AddTileNewsItem(STR_NEWS_NEW_TOWN, NT_INDUSTRY_OPEN, tile, cn);
+			}
 			AI::BroadcastNewEvent(new ScriptEventTownFounded(t->index));
 			Game::NewEvent(new ScriptEventTownFounded(t->index));
 		}