diff --git a/sc2/doc/users/manual.txt b/sc2/doc/users/manual.txt
index d4e71f23e..e30517eb8 100644
--- a/sc2/doc/users/manual.txt
+++ b/sc2/doc/users/manual.txt
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ Use the .MOD based PC soundtrack everywhere.
 Can be "high", "medium", or "low".  Specifies how nice the audio
 sounds.  Slower machines should lower the audio quality.
 
+	-u           (or --nosubtitles)
+	
+Disables subtitles.
+
 			   THE STORY SO FAR
 
 For the past decade, Earth and the rest of the Alliance of Free Stars
diff --git a/sc2/src/options.c b/sc2/src/options.c
index 64717d665..503e20d3e 100644
--- a/sc2/src/options.c
+++ b/sc2/src/options.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "options.h"
 
 int optWhichMusic = MUSIC_3DO;
-
+BOOLEAN optSubtitles = TRUE;
 
 BOOLEAN FileExists (char *filename)
 {
diff --git a/sc2/src/options.h b/sc2/src/options.h
index e822a0dda..884007d5a 100644
--- a/sc2/src/options.h
+++ b/sc2/src/options.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ enum
 };
 extern int optWhichMusic;
 
+extern BOOLEAN optSubtitles;
+
 BOOLEAN FileExists (char *filename);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
index 48f571140..3bd7c580f 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/comm.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "libs/sound/trackplayer.h"
 #include "starcon.h"
 #include "commglue.h"
+#include "options.h"
 
 void InitOscilloscope (int x, int y, int width, int height,
 		void *f);
@@ -1854,6 +1855,10 @@ do_subtitles (UNICODE *pStr)
 {
 	static DWORD TimeOut;
 
+	// TODO: proper disabling of subtitles, this one prolly isn't 'safe'
+	if (optSubtitles == FALSE)
+	    return 0;
+	
 	if (pStr == 0)
 		return (subtitle_state = NEXT_SUBTITLE);
 	else if (pStr == (void *)~0)
diff --git a/sc2/src/starcon2.c b/sc2/src/starcon2.c
index 1f7ded512..e5b660d36 100644
--- a/sc2/src/starcon2.c
+++ b/sc2/src/starcon2.c
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
         {"3domusic", 0, NULL, 'e'},
         {"pcmusic", 0, NULL, 'm'},
 		{"audioquality", 1, NULL, 'q'},
+		{"nosubtitles", 0, NULL, 'u'},
 		{0, 0, 0, 0}
 	};
 
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	strcpy (contentdir, "content");
 #endif
 
-	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "r:d:foc:spn:?hM:S:T:emq:", long_options, &option_index)) != -1)
+	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "r:d:foc:spn:?hM:S:T:emq:u", long_options, &option_index)) != -1)
 	{
 		switch (c) {
 			case 'r':
@@ -177,6 +178,9 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 					soundflags |= TFB_SOUNDFLAGS_LQAUDIO;
 				}
 			break;
+		    case 'u':
+			    optSubtitles = FALSE;
+			break;
 			default:
 				printf ("\nOption %s not found!\n", long_options[option_index].name);
 			case '?':
@@ -196,6 +200,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
                 printf("  -e, --3domusic (default)\n");
                 printf("  -m, --pcmusic\n");
 				printf("  -q, --audioquality=QUALITY (high, medium or low, default medium)\n");
+			    printf("  -u, --nosubtitles\n");
 				return 0;
 			break;
 		}