diff --git a/src/server/defs.h b/src/server/defs.h
index cdbd5ed..83a467c 100644
--- a/src/server/defs.h
+++ b/src/server/defs.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ var string autocvar_motdfile = "motd.txt";
 var int autocvar_mp_friendlyfire = FALSE;
 
 /* new, FreeCS exclusive variables */
+var int autocvar_fcs_escapepenalty = -300;
 var int autocvar_fcs_swaponround = 0;
 var int autocvar_fcs_voxannounce = FALSE;
 var int autocvar_fcs_knifeonly = FALSE; /* Disallows buying and spawning with weps */
diff --git a/src/server/func_escapezone.qc b/src/server/func_escapezone.qc
index 5053d8d..00c9a86 100644
--- a/src/server/func_escapezone.qc
+++ b/src/server/func_escapezone.qc
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ void
 func_escapezone::Touch(entity eToucher)
 {
 	CSMultiplayerRules rule = (CSMultiplayerRules)g_grMode;
-	int to_escape = g_cs_total_t;
+	int to_escape = 0;
+
+	rule.CountPlayers();
+	to_escape = g_cs_total_t;
 
 	/* only 3 Ts need to escape, max */
 	if (to_escape > 3)
@@ -72,6 +75,17 @@ func_escapezone::Touch(entity eToucher)
 
 	rule.m_iEscapedTerrorists++;
 
+	/* balancing tweak: for every escaped T, each and every CT will lose funds */
+	if (autocvar_fcs_escapepenalty != 0) {
+		for (entity eFind = world; (eFind = find(eFind, ::classname, "player"));) { 
+			player ct = (player)eFind;
+
+			if (ct.team == TEAM_CT) {
+				Money_AddMoney(ct, autocvar_fcs_escapepenalty);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	/* mark player as spectator for the end of this 'round' */
 	pl.MakeTempSpectator();