diff --git a/src/playsim/p_map.cpp b/src/playsim/p_map.cpp
index ef5438afdff..65a319fe059 100644
--- a/src/playsim/p_map.cpp
+++ b/src/playsim/p_map.cpp
@@ -5702,6 +5702,35 @@ void R_OffsetView(FRenderViewpoint& viewPoint, const DVector3& dir, const double
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
+static int CanTalk(AActor *self)
+{
+	return self->Conversation != nullptr;
+}
+
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, CanTalk, CanTalk)
+{
+	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
+	ACTION_RETURN_BOOL(CanTalk(self));
+}
+
+static int NativeStartConversation(AActor *self, AActor *player, bool faceTalker, bool saveAngle)
+{
+	if (self->health <= 0 || (self->flags4 & MF4_INCOMBAT) || self->Conversation == nullptr)
+		return false;
+	self->ConversationAnimation(0);
+	P_StartConversation(self, player, faceTalker, saveAngle);
+	return true;
+}
+
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, StartConversation, NativeStartConversation)
+{
+	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
+	PARAM_OBJECT(player, AActor);
+	PARAM_BOOL(faceTalker);
+	PARAM_BOOL(saveAngle);
+	ACTION_RETURN_BOOL(NativeStartConversation(self, player, faceTalker, saveAngle));
+}
+
 bool P_TalkFacing(AActor *player)
 {
 	static const double angleofs[] = { 0, 90./16, -90./16 };
@@ -5710,19 +5739,8 @@ bool P_TalkFacing(AActor *player)
 	for (double angle : angleofs)
 	{
 		P_AimLineAttack(player, player->Angles.Yaw + DAngle::fromDeg(angle), TALKRANGE, &t, DAngle::fromDeg(35.), ALF_FORCENOSMART | ALF_CHECKCONVERSATION | ALF_PORTALRESTRICT);
-		if (t.linetarget != NULL)
-		{
-			if (t.linetarget->health > 0 && // Dead things can't talk.
-				!(t.linetarget->flags4 & MF4_INCOMBAT) && // Fighting things don't talk either.
-				t.linetarget->Conversation != NULL)
-			{
-				// Give the NPC a chance to play a brief animation
-				t.linetarget->ConversationAnimation(0);
-				P_StartConversation(t.linetarget, player, true, true);
-				return true;
-			}
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (t.linetarget != nullptr)
+			return NativeStartConversation(t.linetarget, player, true, true);
 	}
 	return false;
 }
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
index e0633d599b8..49302c56d03 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
@@ -698,7 +698,9 @@ class Actor : Thinker native
 	native clearscope int GetRenderStyle() const;
 	native clearscope bool CheckKeys(int locknum, bool remote, bool quiet = false);
 	protected native void CheckPortalTransition(bool linked = true);
-		
+	native clearscope bool CanTalk() const;
+	native bool StartConversation(Actor player, bool faceTalker = true, bool saveAngle = true);
+
 	native clearscope string GetTag(string defstr = "") const;
 	native clearscope string GetCharacterName() const;
 	native void SetTag(string defstr = "");