diff --git a/googlemap.py b/googlemap.py
index 48fede1..07e082d 100644
--- a/googlemap.py
+++ b/googlemap.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ class MapGen(object):
         self.web_assets_hook = configInfo.get('web_assets_hook', None)
         self.web_assets_path = configInfo.get('web_assets_path', None)
         self.bg_color = configInfo.get('bg_color')
+        self.north_direction = configInfo.get('north_direction', 'upper-right')
         
         if not len(quadtrees) > 0:
             raise ValueError("there must be at least one quadtree to work on")
@@ -109,6 +110,8 @@ class MapGen(object):
                 "{minzoom}", str(0))
         config = config.replace(
                 "{maxzoom}", str(zoomlevel))
+        config = config.replace(
+                "{north_direction}", self.north_direction)
         
         config = config.replace("{spawn_coords}",
                                 json.dumps(list(self.world.spawn)))
diff --git a/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js b/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
index ce38479..22097d0 100644
--- a/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
+++ b/web_assets/overviewerConfig.js
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ var overviewerConfig = {
          * Set to true to turn on debug mode, which adds a grid to the map along
          * with co-ordinates and a bunch of console output.
          */
-        'debug':        false
+        'debug':        false,
+        /**
+         * Set which way north points.
+         */
+        'north_direction': '{north_direction}'
     },
     /**
      * Group definitions for objects that are partially selectable (signs and