diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index 54421049..431c9cf7 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 	<string name="default_action_summary">What to do when an item is tapped</string>
 
 	<string name="pref_misc">Miscellaneous Features</string>
+	<string name="disable_cover_art_title">Disable Cover Art</string>
+	<string name="disable_cover_art_summary">Do not show cover art anywhere in the application</string>
 	<string name="use_idle_timeout_title">Enable Idle Timeout</string>
 	<string name="use_idle_timeout_summary">When active, playback will be stopped after the given period of inactivity</string>
 	<string name="idle_timeout_title">Idle Timeout</string>
diff --git a/res/xml/preferences.xml b/res/xml/preferences.xml
index afae9264..967bd18e 100644
--- a/res/xml/preferences.xml
+++ b/res/xml/preferences.xml
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 			android:defaultValue="0" />
 	</PreferenceCategory>
 	<PreferenceCategory android:title="@string/pref_misc">
+		<CheckBoxPreference
+			android:key="disable_cover_art"
+			android:title="@string/disable_cover_art_title"
+			android:summary="@string/disable_cover_art_summary"
+			android:defaultValue="false" />
 		<CheckBoxPreference
 			android:key="use_idle_timeout"
 			android:title="@string/use_idle_timeout_title"
diff --git a/src/org/kreed/vanilla/PlaybackService.java b/src/org/kreed/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
index 54791d77..79ec594d 100644
--- a/src/org/kreed/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
+++ b/src/org/kreed/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ public final class PlaybackService extends Service implements Handler.Callback,
 			mMediaPlayer.setVolume(volume, volume);
 		}
 		mIdleTimeout = settings.getBoolean("use_idle_timeout", false) ? settings.getInt("idle_timeout", 3600) : 0;
+		Song.mDisableCoverArt = settings.getBoolean("disable_cover_art", false);
 
 		PowerManager powerManager = (PowerManager)getSystemService(POWER_SERVICE);
 		mWakeLock = powerManager.newWakeLock(PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, "VanillaMusicSongChangeLock");
@@ -456,6 +457,8 @@ public final class PlaybackService extends Service implements Handler.Callback,
 		} else if ("use_idle_timeout".equals(key) || "idle_timeout".equals(key)) {
 			mIdleTimeout = settings.getBoolean("use_idle_timeout", false) ? settings.getInt("idle_timeout", 3600) : 0;
 			userActionTriggered();
+		} else if ("disable_cover_art".equals(key)) {
+			Song.mDisableCoverArt = settings.getBoolean("disable_cover_art", false);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/org/kreed/vanilla/Song.java b/src/org/kreed/vanilla/Song.java
index cba08080..6055c52f 100644
--- a/src/org/kreed/vanilla/Song.java
+++ b/src/org/kreed/vanilla/Song.java
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ public class Song implements Parcelable {
 	 */
 	private static final Cache<Bitmap> mCoverCache = new Cache<Bitmap>(10);
 
+	/**
+	 * If true, will not attempt to load any cover art in getCover()
+	 */
+	public static boolean mDisableCoverArt = false;
+
 	/**
 	 * Shuffled list of all ids in the library.
 	 */
@@ -393,7 +398,7 @@ public class Song implements Parcelable {
 	 */
 	public Bitmap getCover()
 	{
-		if (id == -1)
+		if (id == -1 || mDisableCoverArt)
 			return null;
 
 		// Query the cache for the cover