diff --git a/docs/lua/hooks.md b/docs/lua/hooks.md
index 3a49cf1f..329904bb 100644
--- a/docs/lua/hooks.md
+++ b/docs/lua/hooks.md
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ The lua functions sent to `hook_event()` will be automatically called by SM64 wh
 | HOOK_ON_SYNC_VALID | Called when the current area is synchronized | None |
 | HOOK_ON_OBJECT_UNLOAD | Called when any object is unloaded | [Object](structs.md#Object) unloadedObject |
 | HOOK_ON_SYNC_OBJECT_UNLOAD | Called when any networked object is unloaded | [Object](structs.md#Object) unloadedObject |
-| HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT | Called when the local player exits through the pause screen |  `boolean` usedExitToCastle |
+| HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT | Called when the local player exits through the pause screen, return `false` to prevent the exit |  `boolean` usedExitToCastle |
 
 ### Parameters
 
diff --git a/mods/hide-and-seek.lua b/mods/hide-and-seek.lua
index 629015d6..7837f8e9 100644
--- a/mods/hide-and-seek.lua
+++ b/mods/hide-and-seek.lua
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ function on_pause_exit(exitToCastle)
         s.seeking = true
         network_player_set_description(gNetworkPlayers[0], "seeker", 255, 64, 64, 255)
     end
+    return true
 end
 
 function allow_pvp_attack(m1, m2)
diff --git a/src/game/level_update.c b/src/game/level_update.c
index 99c88b03..7d0f8a44 100644
--- a/src/game/level_update.c
+++ b/src/game/level_update.c
@@ -1162,20 +1162,26 @@ s32 play_mode_paused(void) {
         gCameraMovementFlags &= ~CAM_MOVE_PAUSE_SCREEN;
         set_play_mode(PLAY_MODE_NORMAL);
     } else if (gPauseScreenMode == 2) {
-        level_trigger_warp(&gMarioStates[0], WARP_OP_EXIT);
-        set_play_mode(PLAY_MODE_NORMAL);
-        smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param(HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT, false);
-    } else if (gPauseScreenMode == 3) {
-        // Exit level
-        if (gDebugLevelSelect) {
-            fade_into_special_warp(-9, 1);
-        } else {
-            initiate_warp(LEVEL_CASTLE, 1, 0x1F, 0);
-            fade_into_special_warp(0, 0);
-            gSavedCourseNum = COURSE_NONE;
+        bool allowExit = true;
+        smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param_ret_bool(HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT, false, &allowExit);
+        if (allowExit) {
+            level_trigger_warp(&gMarioStates[0], WARP_OP_EXIT);
+            set_play_mode(PLAY_MODE_NORMAL);
+        }
+    } else if (gPauseScreenMode == 3) {
+        bool allowExit = true;
+        smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param_ret_bool(HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT, true, &allowExit);
+        if (allowExit) {
+            // Exit level
+            if (gDebugLevelSelect) {
+                fade_into_special_warp(-9, 1);
+            } else {
+                initiate_warp(LEVEL_CASTLE, 1, 0x1F, 0);
+                fade_into_special_warp(0, 0);
+                gSavedCourseNum = COURSE_NONE;
+            }
+            set_play_mode(PLAY_MODE_CHANGE_LEVEL);
         }
-        set_play_mode(PLAY_MODE_CHANGE_LEVEL);
-        smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param(HOOK_ON_PAUSE_EXIT, true);
     } /* else if (gPauseScreenMode == 4) {
         // We should only be getting "int 4" to here
         initiate_warp(LEVEL_CASTLE, 1, 0x1F, 0);
diff --git a/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.c b/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.c
index 37a9fd38..cf8e5076 100644
--- a/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.c
+++ b/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.c
@@ -95,6 +95,34 @@ void smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, bool va
     }
 }
 
+void smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param_ret_bool(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, bool value, bool* returnValue) {
+    lua_State* L = gLuaState;
+    if (L == NULL) { return; }
+    struct LuaHookedEvent* hook = &sHookedEvents[hookType];
+    for (int i = 0; i < hook->count; i++) {
+        s32 prevTop = lua_gettop(L);
+
+        // push the callback onto the stack
+        lua_rawgeti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, hook->reference[i]);
+
+        // push value
+        lua_pushboolean(L, value);
+
+        // call the callback
+        if (0 != smlua_call_hook(L, 1, 1, 0, hook->mod[i])) {
+            LOG_LUA("Failed to call the callback: %u, %s", hookType, lua_tostring(L, -1));
+            smlua_logline();
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        // output the return value
+        if (lua_type(L, -1) == LUA_TBOOLEAN) {
+            *returnValue = smlua_to_boolean(L, -1);
+        }
+        lua_settop(L, prevTop);
+    }
+}
+
 void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_param(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, struct MarioState* m) {
     lua_State* L = gLuaState;
     if (L == NULL) { return; }
@@ -152,6 +180,8 @@ void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_params_ret_bool(enum LuaHookedEventType hookTy
     if (L == NULL) { return; }
     struct LuaHookedEvent* hook = &sHookedEvents[hookType];
     for (int i = 0; i < hook->count; i++) {
+        s32 prevTop = lua_gettop(L);
+
         // push the callback onto the stack
         lua_rawgeti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, hook->reference[i]);
 
@@ -175,8 +205,10 @@ void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_params_ret_bool(enum LuaHookedEventType hookTy
         }
 
         // output the return value
-        *returnValue = smlua_to_boolean(L, -1);
-        lua_pop(L, 1);
+        if (lua_type(L, -1) == LUA_TBOOLEAN) {
+            *returnValue = smlua_to_boolean(L, -1);
+        }
+        lua_settop(L, prevTop);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.h b/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.h
index b3391b04..ef1e623a 100644
--- a/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.h
+++ b/src/pc/lua/smlua_hooks.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ extern u32 gLuaMarioActionIndex;
 
 void smlua_call_event_hooks(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType);
 void smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, bool value);
+void smlua_call_event_hooks_bool_param_ret_bool(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, bool value, bool* returnValue);
 void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_param(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, struct MarioState* m);
 void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_params(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, struct MarioState* m1, struct MarioState* m2);
 void smlua_call_event_hooks_mario_params_ret_bool(enum LuaHookedEventType hookType, struct MarioState* m1, struct MarioState* m2, bool* returnValue);