diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
index fe70838597..e74d02eb41 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui.cc
@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ ARDOUR_UI::every_point_zero_something_seconds ()
 	// august 2007: actual update frequency: 25Hz (40ms), not 100Hz
 
 	SuperRapidScreenUpdate(); /* EMIT_SIGNAL */
-	if (editor_meter) {
+	if (editor_meter && Config->get_show_editor_meter()) {
 		float mpeak = editor_meter->update_meters();
 		if (mpeak > editor_meter_max_peak) {
 			if (mpeak >= Config->get_meter_peak()) {
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dialogs.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dialogs.cc
index 1f258ca1c8..24f6511b4c 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dialogs.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_dialogs.cc
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ ARDOUR_UI::set_session (Session *s)
 		editor_meter->clear_meters();
 		editor_meter->set_type (_session->master_out()->meter_type());
 		editor_meter->setup_meters (30, 12, 6);
+		editor_meter->show();
 		meter_box.pack_start(*editor_meter);
 
 		ArdourMeter::ResetAllPeakDisplays.connect (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &ARDOUR_UI::reset_peak_display));
@@ -214,10 +215,17 @@ ARDOUR_UI::set_session (Session *s)
 		editor_meter_peak_display.unset_flags (Gtk::CAN_FOCUS);
 		editor_meter_peak_display.set_size_request(6, -1);
 		editor_meter_peak_display.set_corner_radius(2);
-		editor_meter_peak_display.show();
 
 		editor_meter_max_peak = -INFINITY;
 		editor_meter_peak_display.signal_button_release_event().connect (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &ARDOUR_UI::editor_meter_peak_button_release), false);
+
+		if (Config->get_show_editor_meter()) {
+			meter_box.show();
+			editor_meter_peak_display.show();
+		} else {
+			meter_box.hide();
+			editor_meter_peak_display.hide();
+		}
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
index 8cb1376522..6b2c9da6fa 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_options.cc
@@ -413,6 +413,15 @@ ARDOUR_UI::parameter_changed (std::string p)
 	} else if (p == "super-rapid-clock-update") {
 		stop_clocking ();
 		start_clocking ();
+	} else if (p == "show-editor-meter") {
+		bool show = Config->get_show_editor_meter();
+		if (editor_meter && show) {
+			meter_box.show();
+			editor_meter_peak_display.show();
+		} else if (editor_meter && !show) {
+			meter_box.hide();
+			editor_meter_peak_display.hide();
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
index 17ca374f60..98a4ffd014 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
@@ -1315,6 +1315,14 @@ RCOptionEditor::RCOptionEditor ()
 		     sigc::mem_fun (*_rc_config, &RCConfiguration::set_show_track_meters)
 		     ));
 
+	add_option (_("Editor"),
+	     new BoolOption (
+		     "show-editor-meter",
+		     _("Display master-meter in the toolbar"),
+		     sigc::mem_fun (*_rc_config, &RCConfiguration::get_show_editor_meter),
+		     sigc::mem_fun (*_rc_config, &RCConfiguration::set_show_editor_meter)
+		     ));
+
 	bco = new BoolComboOption (
 		     "use-overlap-equivalency",
 		     _("Regions in active edit groups are edited together"),
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
index a1008df6a6..e05efbd510 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (MeterLineUp, meter_line_up_level, "meter-line-up-level", Meteri
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (MeterLineUp, meter_line_up_din, "meter-line-up-din", MeteringLineUp15)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (float, meter_peak, "meter-peak", 0.0f)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, meter_style_led, "meter-style-led", true)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, show_editor_meter, "show-editor-meter", true)
 
 /* miscellany */