diff --git a/conf/configuration.go b/conf/configuration.go
index fd84eb8aa..804689e7c 100644
--- a/conf/configuration.go
+++ b/conf/configuration.go
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ type sonic struct {
 	DownsampleCommand   string `default:"ffmpeg -i %s -map 0:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -f mp3 -"`
 	PlsIgnoreFolders    bool   `default:"true"`
 	PlsIgnoredPatterns  string `default:"^iCloud;\\~"`
+
+	// DevFlags
+	DevDisableFileCheck bool `default:"false"`
 }
 
 var Sonic *sonic
diff --git a/scanner/itunes_scanner.go b/scanner/itunes_scanner.go
index 0e0e2dbef..857985c1c 100644
--- a/scanner/itunes_scanner.go
+++ b/scanner/itunes_scanner.go
@@ -135,7 +135,15 @@ func (s *ItunesScanner) Playlists() map[string]*domain.Playlist {
 }
 
 func (s *ItunesScanner) skipTrack(t *itl.Track) bool {
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(t.Location, "file://") || t.Podcast {
+	if t.Podcast {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if conf.Sonic.DevDisableFileCheck {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(t.Location, "file://") {
 		return true
 	}
 
@@ -262,7 +270,7 @@ func (s *ItunesScanner) collectMediaFiles(t *itl.Track) *domain.MediaFile {
 	mf.CreatedAt = t.DateAdded
 	mf.UpdatedAt = s.lastChangedDate(t)
 
-	if mf.UpdatedAt.After(s.lastModifiedSince) {
+	if mf.UpdatedAt.After(s.lastModifiedSince) && !conf.Sonic.DevDisableFileCheck {
 		mf.HasCoverArt = hasCoverArt(path)
 	}