diff --git a/.luacheckrc b/.luacheckrc
index f087d303bf7a587d53e4ec6b30f808ab84735e19..3a4faccb9ad356776664a96d671102048948bc22 100644
--- a/.luacheckrc
+++ b/.luacheckrc
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ read_globals = {
 	"DIR_DELIM",
 	"minetest", "core",
 	"dump",
-	"vector", "nodeupdate",
+	"vector", "nodeupdate", "nodeupdate_single",
 	"VoxelManip", "VoxelArea",
 	"PseudoRandom", "ItemStack",
 }
diff --git a/game_api.txt b/game_api.txt
index 9e8d496388020964bb29825264a759e8943c9f86..a148136d5c45534bee72c4cc3cbf8d1bcdcc9c50 100644
--- a/game_api.txt
+++ b/game_api.txt
@@ -290,9 +290,9 @@ TNT API
 * `position` The center of explosion.
 * `definition` The TNT definion as passed to `tnt.register`
 
-`tnt.burn(position)`
+`tnt.burn(position, [nodename])`
 
-^ Ignite TNT at position
+^ Ignite TNT at position, nodename isn't required unless already known.
 
 
 To make dropping items from node inventories easier, you can use the
diff --git a/mods/tnt/init.lua b/mods/tnt/init.lua
index 1e6e29d5c65fa922ca34f5ee6137a4d807228370..1138e1c24d028d299fbfb9437dd78302f9088407 100644
--- a/mods/tnt/init.lua
+++ b/mods/tnt/init.lua
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ local function destroy(drops, npos, cid, c_air, c_fire, on_blast_queue, ignore_p
 		return c_fire
 	else
 		local node_drops = minetest.get_node_drops(def.name, "")
-		for _, item in ipairs(node_drops) do
+		for _, item in pairs(node_drops) do
 			add_drop(drops, item)
 		end
 		return c_air
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ local function entity_physics(pos, radius, drops)
 					}, nil)
 				end
 			end
-			for _, item in ipairs(entity_drops) do
+			for _, item in pairs(entity_drops) do
 				add_drop(drops, item)
 			end
 		end
@@ -248,8 +248,8 @@ local function add_effects(pos, radius, drops)
 	})
 end
 
-function tnt.burn(pos)
-	local name = minetest.get_node(pos).name
+function tnt.burn(pos, nodename)
+	local name = nodename or minetest.get_node(pos).name
 	local group = minetest.get_item_group(name, "tnt")
 	if group > 0 then
 		minetest.sound_play("tnt_ignite", {pos = pos})
@@ -333,24 +333,25 @@ local function tnt_explode(pos, radius, ignore_protection, ignore_on_blast)
 	vm:update_liquids()
 
 	-- call nodeupdate for everything within 1.5x blast radius
+	for y = -radius * 1.5, radius * 1.5 do
 	for z = -radius * 1.5, radius * 1.5 do
 	for x = -radius * 1.5, radius * 1.5 do
-	for y = -radius * 1.5, radius * 1.5 do
-		local s = vector.add(pos, {x = x, y = y, z = z})
-		local r = vector.distance(pos, s)
+		local rad = {x = x, y = y, z = z}
+		local s = vector.add(pos, rad)
+		local r = vector.length(rad)
 		if r / radius < 1.4 then
-			nodeupdate(s)
+			nodeupdate_single(s)
 		end
 	end
 	end
 	end
 
-	for _, queued_data in ipairs(on_blast_queue) do
+	for _, queued_data in pairs(on_blast_queue) do
 		local dist = math.max(1, vector.distance(queued_data.pos, pos))
 		local intensity = (radius * radius) / (dist * dist)
 		local node_drops = queued_data.on_blast(queued_data.pos, intensity)
 		if node_drops then
-			for _, item in ipairs(node_drops) do
+			for _, item in pairs(node_drops) do
 				add_drop(drops, item)
 			end
 		end
@@ -408,11 +409,11 @@ minetest.register_node("tnt:gunpowder", {
 
 	on_punch = function(pos, node, puncher)
 		if puncher:get_wielded_item():get_name() == "default:torch" then
-			tnt.burn(pos)
+			tnt.burn(pos, node.name)
 		end
 	end,
 	on_blast = function(pos, intensity)
-		tnt.burn(pos)
+		tnt.burn(pos, "tnt:gunpowder")
 	end,
 })
 
@@ -511,7 +512,9 @@ if enable_tnt then
 		neighbors = {"fire:basic_flame", "default:lava_source", "default:lava_flowing"},
 		interval = 4,
 		chance = 1,
-		action = tnt.burn,
+		action = function(pos, node)
+			tnt.burn(pos, node.name)
+		end,
 	})
 end