diff --git a/GameSettings.cpp b/GameSettings.cpp
index a149f07a0..9eb832767 100644
--- a/GameSettings.cpp
+++ b/GameSettings.cpp
@@ -2271,6 +2271,7 @@ void LoadSkillTraitsExternalSettings()
 	gSkillTraitValues.sCODisguiseAPReduction				= iniReader.ReadInteger("Covert Ops","COVERT_DISGUISE_PERCENT_AP_REDUCTION", 20, 0, 50);
 	gSkillTraitValues.sCOCloseDetectionRange				= iniReader.ReadInteger("Covert Ops","COVERT_CLOSE_DETECTION_RANGE", 10, 0, 100);
 	gSkillTraitValues.sCOCloseDetectionRangeSoldierCorpse	= iniReader.ReadInteger("Covert Ops","COVERT_CLOSE_DETECTION_RANGE_SOLDIER_CORPSE", 5, 0, 100);
+	gSkillTraitValues.fCOElitesDetectNextTile				= iniReader.ReadBoolean("Covert Ops","COVERT_ELITES_DETECT_NEXTTILE", TRUE);
 }
 //DBrot: Grids
 void LoadModSettings(){
diff --git a/GameSettings.h b/GameSettings.h
index b20151661..73c0bf95f 100644
--- a/GameSettings.h
+++ b/GameSettings.h
@@ -1520,6 +1520,7 @@ typedef struct
 	INT16	sCODisguiseAPReduction;
 	INT16	sCOCloseDetectionRange;
 	INT16	sCOCloseDetectionRangeSoldierCorpse;
+	BOOLEAN fCOElitesDetectNextTile;
 
 } SKILL_TRAIT_VALUES;
 
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp
index 6d9e6aa14..09d496ed4 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
@@ -15156,6 +15156,16 @@ BOOLEAN		SOLDIERTYPE::SeemsLegit( UINT8 ubObserverID )
 			}
 			break;	
 		}
+
+		// if we are a soldier, elites can uncover us if we are VERY close, and more experienced
+		if ( this->bSoldierFlagMask & SOLDIER_COVERT_SOLDIER && gSkillTraitValues.fCOElitesDetectNextTile && distance < 2 && EffectiveExpLevel(pSoldier) > EffectiveExpLevel(this) + covertlevel )
+		{
+			if ( pSoldier->ubSoldierClass == SOLDIER_CLASS_ELITE )
+			{
+				ScreenMsg( FONT_MCOLOR_LTYELLOW, MSG_INTERFACE, szCovertTextStr[STR_COVERT_TOO_CLOSE_TO_ELITE], this->GetName() );
+				return FALSE;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	if ( this->bSoldierFlagMask & SOLDIER_COVERT_CIV )
diff --git a/Utils/Text.h b/Utils/Text.h
index ced012be1..7118ead15 100644
--- a/Utils/Text.h
+++ b/Utils/Text.h
@@ -692,6 +692,7 @@ enum
 	STR_COVERT_TEST_FAIL,
 	STR_COVERT_STEAL_FAIL,
 	STR_COVERT_APPLYITEM_STEAL_FAIL,
+	STR_COVERT_TOO_CLOSE_TO_ELITE,
 	TEXT_NUM_COVERT_STR
 };
 
diff --git a/Utils/_ChineseText.cpp b/Utils/_ChineseText.cpp
index 142a12c34..e1aae69a4 100644
--- a/Utils/_ChineseText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_ChineseText.cpp
@@ -7522,6 +7522,7 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s的伪装要被识破了。", // L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s在偷窃的时候被抓了！", // L"%s was caught stealing!",
 	L"%s在试图调整%s的物品栏。", // L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_DutchText.cpp b/Utils/_DutchText.cpp
index e134a042b..97676921f 100644
--- a/Utils/_DutchText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_DutchText.cpp
@@ -7519,7 +7519,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_EnglishText.cpp b/Utils/_EnglishText.cpp
index 73e0df3f8..90065e6ba 100644
--- a/Utils/_EnglishText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_EnglishText.cpp
@@ -7507,7 +7507,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_FrenchText.cpp b/Utils/_FrenchText.cpp
index 5a88167d0..e337d670d 100644
--- a/Utils/_FrenchText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_FrenchText.cpp
@@ -7503,7 +7503,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_GermanText.cpp b/Utils/_GermanText.cpp
index e9f387749..e1a4fa3e0 100644
--- a/Utils/_GermanText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_GermanText.cpp
@@ -7330,7 +7330,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's Verkleidung sollte überzeugen",
 	L"%s's Verkleidung wird auffliegen!",
 	L"%s wurde beim Stehlen erwischt!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s hat versucht, %s's Azsrüstung zu verändern.",
+	L"%s ist zu nah an einem Elitesoldat!",
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_ItalianText.cpp b/Utils/_ItalianText.cpp
index 959ea633f..aaa06fb6d 100644
--- a/Utils/_ItalianText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_ItalianText.cpp
@@ -7505,7 +7505,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_PolishText.cpp b/Utils/_PolishText.cpp
index e4ea65330..b9fee09bc 100644
--- a/Utils/_PolishText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_PolishText.cpp
@@ -7525,7 +7525,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_RussianText.cpp b/Utils/_RussianText.cpp
index 917db79ea..d4379b2b6 100644
--- a/Utils/_RussianText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_RussianText.cpp
@@ -7506,7 +7506,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=
diff --git a/Utils/_TaiwaneseText.cpp b/Utils/_TaiwaneseText.cpp
index e1d8d0f53..67c429075 100644
--- a/Utils/_TaiwaneseText.cpp
+++ b/Utils/_TaiwaneseText.cpp
@@ -7523,7 +7523,8 @@ STR16	szCovertTextStr[]=
 	L"%s's disguise seems to be ok...",
 	L"%s's disguise will not hold.",
 	L"%s was caught stealing!",
-	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory."
+	L"%s tried to manipulate %s's inventory.",
+	L"%s is too close to an elite soldier!",	// TODO.Translate
 };
 
 STR16	szCorpseTextStr[]=