diff --git a/Bugzilla/Bug.pm b/Bugzilla/Bug.pm
index 155736359..88fc0ff26 100644
--- a/Bugzilla/Bug.pm
+++ b/Bugzilla/Bug.pm
@@ -796,9 +796,11 @@ sub _check_bug_status
         @valid_statuses = grep { $_->is_confirmed } @valid_statuses;
     }
 
-    if ($self->assigned_to_id && $user->id != $self->assigned_to_id)
+    my $allow_assigned = 1;
+    if (!Bugzilla->params->{assign_to_others} && $self->assigned_to_id && $user->id != $self->assigned_to_id)
     {
         # You can not assign bugs to other people
+        $allow_assigned = 0;
         @valid_statuses = grep { !$_->is_assigned } @valid_statuses;
     }
 
@@ -817,14 +819,15 @@ sub _check_bug_status
     }
 
     # We skip this check if we are changing from a status to itself.
-    if ((!$old_status || $old_status->id != $new_status->id) &&
+    if ((!$old_status || $old_status->id != $new_status->id ||
+        !$new_status->is_confirmed && !$product->allows_unconfirmed) &&
         !grep { $_->id == $new_status->id } @valid_statuses)
     {
         ThrowUserError('illegal_bug_status_transition', {
             old => $old_status,
             new => $new_status,
             allow_unconfirmed => $product->allows_unconfirmed,
-            allow_assigned => !$self->assigned_to_id || $user->id == $self->assigned_to_id,
+            allow_assigned => $allow_assigned,
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/Bugzilla/Config/BugChange.pm b/Bugzilla/Config/BugChange.pm
index 42a539e32..7057de8d5 100644
--- a/Bugzilla/Config/BugChange.pm
+++ b/Bugzilla/Config/BugChange.pm
@@ -124,7 +124,13 @@ sub get_param_list
         name    => 'noresolveonopenblockers',
         type    => 'b',
         default => 0,
-    }
+    },
+
+    {
+        name => 'assign_to_others',
+        type => 'b',
+        default => 1,
+    },
     );
     return @param_list;
 }
diff --git a/template/en/default/admin/params/bugchange.html.tmpl b/template/en/default/admin/params/bugchange.html.tmpl
index 3c7213a17..cb9e2c166 100644
--- a/template/en/default/admin/params/bugchange.html.tmpl
+++ b/template/en/default/admin/params/bugchange.html.tmpl
@@ -60,4 +60,8 @@
     "Don\'t allow $terms.bugs to be resolved as fixed " _
     "if they have unresolved dependencies."
 
+  assign_to_others =>
+    "Allow to assign bugs to other people, i.e. allow to set bug status " _
+    "that has 'is assigned' flag turned on if 'assigned to' is not equal to you."
+
 } %]