diff --git a/src/server/game/Entities/Unit/Unit.cpp b/src/server/game/Entities/Unit/Unit.cpp
index 57674dd6d..a42fb492d 100644
--- a/src/server/game/Entities/Unit/Unit.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game/Entities/Unit/Unit.cpp
@@ -13956,6 +13956,9 @@ bool Unit::_IsValidAttackTarget(Unit const* target, SpellInfo const* bySpell, Wo
     // additional checks - only PvP case
     if (playerAffectingAttacker && playerAffectingTarget)
     {
+        if (!IsPvP() && bySpell && bySpell->IsAffectingArea() && !bySpell->HasAttribute(SPELL_ATTR5_IGNORE_AREA_EFFECT_PVP_CHECK))
+            return false;
+
         if (target->IsPvP())
             return true;