diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index 57b2b8775..63e8f065b 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -3068,16 +3068,18 @@ static double rc_popularity(const struct race * rc)
 
 void update_owners(region * r)
 {
-  building * blargest = NULL;
-  blargest = largestbuilding(r, &is_tax_building, false);
+  building * bowner = largestbuilding(r, &is_owner_building, false);
+  building * blargest = largestbuilding(r, &is_tax_building, false);
   if (blargest) {
-    /* region owners update? */
-    faction * f = region_get_owner(r);
-    unit * u = buildingowner(r, blargest);
-    if (u==NULL) {
-      region_set_owner(r, NULL, turn);
-    } else if (u->faction!=f) {
-      region_set_owner(r, u->faction, turn);
+    if (!bowner || bowner->size<blargest->size) {
+      /* region owners update? */
+      faction *  f = region_get_owner(r);
+      unit * u = buildingowner(r, blargest);
+      if (u==NULL) {
+        region_set_owner(r, NULL, turn);
+      } else if (u->faction!=f) {
+        region_set_owner(r, u->faction, turn);
+      }
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/eressea/tolua/bind_region.c b/src/eressea/tolua/bind_region.c
index f6ae5b4a7..75146b928 100644
--- a/src/eressea/tolua/bind_region.c
+++ b/src/eressea/tolua/bind_region.c
@@ -118,6 +118,29 @@ tolua_region_get_terrainname(lua_State* L)
   return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+tolua_region_set_owner(lua_State* L)
+{
+  region* r = (region*) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
+  struct faction* f = (struct faction*) tolua_tousertype(L, 2, 0);
+  if (r) {
+    region_set_owner(r, f, turn);
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+tolua_region_get_owner(lua_State* L)
+{
+  region* r = (region*) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
+  if (r) {
+    struct faction * f = region_get_owner(r);
+    tolua_pushusertype(L, f, "faction");
+    return 1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
 static int
 tolua_region_set_terrainname(lua_State* L)
 {
@@ -553,6 +576,7 @@ tolua_region_open(lua_State* L)
       tolua_function(L, TOLUA_CAST "next", tolua_region_get_adj);
 
       tolua_variable(L, TOLUA_CAST "terrain_name", &tolua_region_get_terrainname, &tolua_region_set_terrainname);
+      tolua_variable(L, TOLUA_CAST "owner", &tolua_region_get_owner, &tolua_region_set_owner);
 
       tolua_function(L, TOLUA_CAST "get_key", tolua_region_getkey);
       tolua_function(L, TOLUA_CAST "set_key", tolua_region_setkey);
diff --git a/src/scripts/tests.lua b/src/scripts/tests.lua
index 0890fad2d..ac90f1cdc 100644
--- a/src/scripts/tests.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/tests.lua
@@ -244,6 +244,36 @@ local function test_recruit2()
   print(u.number)
 end
 
+local function test_owners()
+  free_game()
+  local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
+  local f1 = faction.create("enno@eressea.de", "human", "de")
+  local u1 = unit.create(f1, r, 1)
+  local f2 = faction.create("enno@eressea.de", "human", "de")
+  local u2 = unit.create(f2, r, 1)
+  local u3 = unit.create(f2, r, 1)
+
+  local b3 = building.create(r, "castle")
+  b3.size = 2
+  u3.building = b3
+  local b1 = building.create(r, "castle")
+  b1.size = 1
+  u1.building = b1
+  local b2 = building.create(r, "castle")
+  b2.size = 2
+  u2.building = b2
+  
+  update_owners()
+  assert(r.owner==u3.faction)
+  b1.size=3
+  b2.size=3
+  update_owners()
+  assert(r.owner==u2.faction)
+  b1.size=4
+  update_owners()
+  assert(r.owner==u1.faction)
+end
+
 local function test_recruit()
   free_game()
   local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
@@ -587,9 +617,11 @@ tests = {
     ["upkeep"] = test_upkeep,
     ["id"] = test_id,
     ["work"] = test_work,
+    ["owners"] = test_owners,
     ["market"] = test_market
 }
 mytests = {
+    ["owners"] = test_owners,
     ["mallorn"] = test_mallorn,
     ["recruit2"] = test_recruit2
 }