diff --git a/code/hud/hudsquadmsg.cpp b/code/hud/hudsquadmsg.cpp
index 25ecd057561..20956c15a55 100644
--- a/code/hud/hudsquadmsg.cpp
+++ b/code/hud/hudsquadmsg.cpp
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void hud_squadmsg_start()
 	MsgItems.clear();
 	First_menu_item = 0;
 	Selected_menu_item = First_menu_item;                            // make first menu item a selected object
-	Display_selector = false;
+	Display_selector = Always_show_selected_item_in_comms_gauge;
 
 	Squad_msg_mode = SM_MODE_TYPE_SELECT;							// start off at the base state
 	Msg_mode_timestamp = _timestamp(DEFAULT_MSG_TIMEOUT);		// initialize our timer to bogus value
@@ -496,8 +496,18 @@ void hud_squadmsg_selection_move( bool up ) {
 		//The selection moves +/-1 through the whole menu, wrapping around at either end.
 		//First_menu_item and Selected_menu_item are just the page and the offset within the page.
 		int num_items = sz2i(MsgItems.size());
+		int step = up ? -1 : 1;
 		int selected_index = First_menu_item + Selected_menu_item;
-		selected_index = (selected_index + (up ? -1 : 1) + num_items) % num_items;
+
+		//skip over any hidden items (such as when using Hide_main_rearm_items_in_comms_gauge).
+		//bound the search by the item count so a fully hidden menu does not loop forever.
+		for (int i = 0; i < num_items; i++) {
+			selected_index = (selected_index + step + num_items) % num_items;
+
+			//stop once we land on a visible item
+			if (MsgItems[selected_index].active >= 0)
+				break;
+		}
 
 		Selected_menu_item = selected_index % MAX_MENU_DISPLAY;
 		First_menu_item = selected_index - Selected_menu_item;
diff --git a/code/mod_table/mod_table.cpp b/code/mod_table/mod_table.cpp
index 222d5278fd4..cebd454ea26 100644
--- a/code/mod_table/mod_table.cpp
+++ b/code/mod_table/mod_table.cpp
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ bool Use_new_scanning_behavior;
 bool Lua_API_returns_nil_instead_of_invalid_object;
 bool Dont_show_callsigns_in_escort_list;
 bool Hide_main_rearm_items_in_comms_gauge;
+bool Always_show_selected_item_in_comms_gauge;
 bool Fix_scripted_velocity;
 color Overhead_line_colors[MAX_SHIP_SECONDARY_BANKS];
 bool Preload_briefing_icon_models;
@@ -499,6 +500,10 @@ void parse_mod_table(const char *filename)
 				stuff_boolean(&Hide_main_rearm_items_in_comms_gauge);
 			}
 
+			if (optional_string("$Always show selected item in Comms Gauge:")) {
+				stuff_boolean(&Always_show_selected_item_in_comms_gauge);
+			}
+
 			optional_string("#SEXP SETTINGS");
 
 			if (optional_string("$Loop SEXPs Then Arguments:")) {
@@ -1941,6 +1946,7 @@ void mod_table_reset()
 	Use_new_scanning_behavior = false;
 	Lua_API_returns_nil_instead_of_invalid_object = false;
 	Dont_show_callsigns_in_escort_list = false;
+	Always_show_selected_item_in_comms_gauge = false;
 	Hide_main_rearm_items_in_comms_gauge = false;
 	Fix_scripted_velocity = false;
 	// These colors were taken from missionscreencommon.cpp line 591 which
diff --git a/code/mod_table/mod_table.h b/code/mod_table/mod_table.h
index d74e35b0395..ea1a9be939a 100644
--- a/code/mod_table/mod_table.h
+++ b/code/mod_table/mod_table.h
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ extern bool Use_new_scanning_behavior;
 extern bool Lua_API_returns_nil_instead_of_invalid_object;
 extern bool Dont_show_callsigns_in_escort_list;
 extern bool Hide_main_rearm_items_in_comms_gauge;
+extern bool Always_show_selected_item_in_comms_gauge;
 extern bool Fix_scripted_velocity;
 extern color Overhead_line_colors[MAX_SHIP_SECONDARY_BANKS];
 extern bool Preload_briefing_icon_models;