diff --git a/onionr/notifier/__init__.py b/onionr/notifier/__init__.py
index 5fdc696f..bc131ff1 100644
--- a/onionr/notifier/__init__.py
+++ b/onionr/notifier/__init__.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ except ImportError:
 else:
     notifications_enabled = True
 
+import config
+
+if not config.get('general.show_notifications', True): notifications_enabled = False
+
 def notify(title: str = "Onionr", message: str = ""):
     """cross platform method to show a notification"""
     if not notifications_enabled: return
diff --git a/static-data/default_config.json b/static-data/default_config.json
index 31dda36c..89cd28a6 100755
--- a/static-data/default_config.json
+++ b/static-data/default_config.json
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
         "public_key": "",
         "random_bind_ip": false,
         "use_bootstrap_list": true,
-        "store_plaintext_blocks": true
+        "store_plaintext_blocks": true,
+        "show_notifications": true
     },
 
     "plugins": {