diff --git a/common/pcb.keywords b/common/pcb.keywords
index dbbf3747f2..741644fc71 100644
--- a/common/pcb.keywords
+++ b/common/pcb.keywords
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ blind
 blind_buried_vias_allowed
 board_only
 bold
+border
 bottom
 bottom_left
 bottom_right
diff --git a/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_textbox_properties.cpp b/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_textbox_properties.cpp
index 37d4449780..2af054b3f7 100644
--- a/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_textbox_properties.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_textbox_properties.cpp
@@ -357,28 +357,21 @@ bool DIALOG_TEXTBOX_PROPERTIES::TransferDataFromWindow()
 
     m_textBox->SetMirrored( m_mirrored->IsChecked() );
 
-
-    if( m_borderCheckbox->GetValue() )
-    {
-        STROKE_PARAMS stroke = m_textBox->GetStroke();
-        if( !m_borderWidth.IsIndeterminate() )
-            stroke.SetWidth( m_borderWidth.GetValue() );
+    m_textBox->SetBorderEnabled( m_borderCheckbox->GetValue() );
+    STROKE_PARAMS stroke = m_textBox->GetStroke();
+    if( !m_borderWidth.IsIndeterminate() )
+        stroke.SetWidth( m_borderWidth.GetValue() );
 
 
-        auto it = lineTypeNames.begin();
-        std::advance( it, m_borderStyleCombo->GetSelection() );
+    auto it = lineTypeNames.begin();
+    std::advance( it, m_borderStyleCombo->GetSelection() );
 
-        if( it == lineTypeNames.end() )
-            stroke.SetPlotStyle( PLOT_DASH_TYPE::DEFAULT );
-        else
-            stroke.SetPlotStyle( it->first );
-
-        m_textBox->SetStroke( stroke );
-    }
+    if( it == lineTypeNames.end() )
+        stroke.SetPlotStyle( PLOT_DASH_TYPE::DEFAULT );
     else
-    {
-        m_textBox->DisableBorder();
-    }
+        stroke.SetPlotStyle( it->first );
+
+    m_textBox->SetStroke( stroke );
 
     m_textBox->ClearBoundingBoxCache();
     m_textBox->ClearRenderCache();
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
index f8e7bb9c5f..ecf919c236 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_painter.cpp
@@ -2151,7 +2151,7 @@ void PCB_PAINTER::draw( const PCB_TEXTBOX* aTextBox, int aLayer )
 
     if( lineStyle <= PLOT_DASH_TYPE::FIRST_TYPE )
     {
-        if( thickness > 0 )
+        if( aTextBox->IsBorderEnabled() && thickness > 0 )
         {
             std::vector<VECTOR2I> pts = aTextBox->GetCorners();
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.cpp
index e764a235db..79bf7959f2 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@
 
 PCB_TEXTBOX::PCB_TEXTBOX( BOARD_ITEM* parent ) :
     PCB_SHAPE( parent, PCB_TEXTBOX_T, SHAPE_T::RECTANGLE ),
-    EDA_TEXT( pcbIUScale )
+    EDA_TEXT( pcbIUScale ),
+    m_borderEnabled( true )
 {
     SetHorizJustify( GR_TEXT_H_ALIGN_LEFT );
     SetVertJustify( GR_TEXT_V_ALIGN_TOP );
@@ -522,7 +523,7 @@ void PCB_TEXTBOX::TransformShapeToPolygon( SHAPE_POLY_SET& aBuffer, PCB_LAYER_ID
         for( const VECTOR2I& pt : pts )
             aBuffer.Append( pt );
 
-        if( width > 0 )
+        if( m_borderEnabled && width > 0 )
         {
             // Add in segments
             TransformOvalToPolygon( aBuffer, pts[0], pts[1], width, aMaxError, aErrorLoc );
@@ -540,7 +541,7 @@ void PCB_TEXTBOX::TransformShapeToPolygon( SHAPE_POLY_SET& aBuffer, PCB_LAYER_ID
         for( int ii = 0; ii < poly.PointCount(); ++ii )
             aBuffer.Append( poly.GetPoint( ii ) );
 
-        if( width > 0 )
+        if( m_borderEnabled && width > 0 )
         {
             for( int ii = 0; ii < poly.SegmentCount(); ++ii )
             {
@@ -554,13 +555,13 @@ void PCB_TEXTBOX::TransformShapeToPolygon( SHAPE_POLY_SET& aBuffer, PCB_LAYER_ID
 
 bool PCB_TEXTBOX::IsBorderEnabled() const
 {
-    return m_stroke.GetWidth() >= 0;
+    return m_borderEnabled;
 }
 
 
-void PCB_TEXTBOX::DisableBorder()
+void PCB_TEXTBOX::SetBorderEnabled( bool enabled )
 {
-    m_stroke.SetWidth( -1 );
+    m_borderEnabled = enabled;
 }
 
 
@@ -582,5 +583,12 @@ static struct PCB_TEXTBOX_DESC
         propMgr.Mask( TYPE_HASH( PCB_TEXTBOX ), TYPE_HASH( EDA_SHAPE ), _HKI( "End Y" ) );
         propMgr.Mask( TYPE_HASH( PCB_TEXTBOX ), TYPE_HASH( EDA_SHAPE ), _HKI( "Line Width" ) );
         propMgr.Mask( TYPE_HASH( PCB_TEXTBOX ), TYPE_HASH( EDA_SHAPE ), _HKI( "Line Style" ) );
+
+        const wxString textBoxProps = _( "Text Box" );
+
+        propMgr.AddProperty( new PROPERTY<PCB_TEXTBOX, bool>( _HKI( "Border" ),
+                                                              &PCB_TEXTBOX::SetBorderEnabled,
+                                                              &PCB_TEXTBOX::IsBorderEnabled ),
+                             textBoxProps );
     }
 } _PCB_TEXTBOX_DESC;
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.h b/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.h
index 056367393d..7e96ef45cb 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.h
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_textbox.h
@@ -142,9 +142,11 @@ public:
     bool IsBorderEnabled() const;
 
     ///< Disables the border, this is done by changing the stroke internally
-    void DisableBorder();
+    void SetBorderEnabled( bool enabled );
 
 protected:
+    bool m_borderEnabled; ///< Controls drawing the border (as defined by the stroke members)
+
     virtual void swapData( BOARD_ITEM* aImage ) override;
 
     const KIFONT::METRICS& getFontMetrics() const override { return GetFontMetrics(); }
diff --git a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
index e63f0b9f55..30535a8761 100644
--- a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
@@ -3242,6 +3242,11 @@ PCB_TEXTBOX* PCB_PARSER::parsePCB_TEXTBOX( BOARD_ITEM* aParent )
             break;
         }
 
+        case T_border:
+            textbox->SetBorderEnabled( parseBool() );
+            NeedRIGHT();
+            break;
+
         case T_layer:
             textbox->SetLayer( parseBoardItemLayer() );
             NeedRIGHT();
@@ -3268,6 +3273,10 @@ PCB_TEXTBOX* PCB_PARSER::parsePCB_TEXTBOX( BOARD_ITEM* aParent )
 
     textbox->SetStroke( stroke );
 
+    if( m_requiredVersion < 20230825 ) // compat, we move to an explicit flag
+        textbox->SetBorderEnabled( stroke.GetWidth() >= 0 );
+
+
     if( FOOTPRINT* parentFP = dynamic_cast<FOOTPRINT*>( aParent ) )
     {
         textbox->Rotate( { 0, 0 }, parentFP->GetOrientation() );
diff --git a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.cpp b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.cpp
index 35f511aa4e..3e0ab1a20f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.cpp
@@ -1896,8 +1896,14 @@ void PCB_PLUGIN::format( const PCB_TEXTBOX* aTextBox, int aNestLevel ) const
     // PCB_TEXTBOXes are never hidden, so always omit "hide" attribute
     aTextBox->EDA_TEXT::Format( m_out, aNestLevel, m_ctl | CTL_OMIT_HIDE );
 
-    if( aTextBox->GetStroke().GetWidth() > 0 )
-        aTextBox->GetStroke().Format( m_out, pcbIUScale, aNestLevel + 1 );
+    m_out->Print( aNestLevel + 1, "(border" );
+
+    if( aTextBox->IsBorderEnabled() )
+        m_out->Print( 0, " yes)" );
+    else
+        m_out->Print( 0, " no)" );
+
+    aTextBox->GetStroke().Format( m_out, pcbIUScale, aNestLevel + 1 );
 
     if( aTextBox->GetFont() && aTextBox->GetFont()->IsOutline() )
         formatRenderCache( aTextBox, aNestLevel + 1 );
diff --git a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.h b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.h
index 21e1eeecb6..946409c954 100644
--- a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.h
+++ b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_plugin.h
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ class PCB_PLUGIN;   // forward decl
 //#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION    20230410  // DNP attribute propagated from schematic to attr
 //#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION    20230517  // Teardrop parameters for pads and vias
 //#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION    20230620  // PCB Fields
-#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION      20230730  // Connectivity for graphic shapes
+//#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION    20230730  // Connectivity for graphic shapes
+#define SEXPR_BOARD_FILE_VERSION      20230825  // Textbox explicit border flag
 
 #define BOARD_FILE_HOST_VERSION       20200825  ///< Earlier files than this include the host tag
 #define LEGACY_ARC_FORMATTING         20210925  ///< These were the last to use old arc formatting