diff --git a/application/forms/PreferenceForm.php b/application/forms/PreferenceForm.php
index 424f76578..3ee1ebb38 100644
--- a/application/forms/PreferenceForm.php
+++ b/application/forms/PreferenceForm.php
@@ -185,6 +185,17 @@ class PreferenceForm extends Form
             )
         );
 
+        $this->addElement(
+            'checkbox',
+            'auto_refresh',
+            array(
+                'required'      => false,
+                'label'         => $this->translate('Enable auto refresh'),
+                'description'   => $this->translate('This option allows you to enable or to disable the global page content auto refresh'),
+                'value'         => 1
+            )
+        );
+
         if ($this->store) {
             $this->addElement(
                 'submit',
diff --git a/library/Icinga/Web/Controller/ActionController.php b/library/Icinga/Web/Controller/ActionController.php
index f7a21c20e..8764e49ee 100644
--- a/library/Icinga/Web/Controller/ActionController.php
+++ b/library/Icinga/Web/Controller/ActionController.php
@@ -399,6 +399,10 @@ class ActionController extends Zend_Controller_Action
                     $layout->benchmark = $this->renderBenchmark();
                 }
             }
+
+            if ((bool) $user->getPreferences()->getValue('icingaweb', 'auto_refresh', true) === false) {
+                $this->disableAutoRefresh();
+            }
         }
 
         if ($req->getParam('format') === 'pdf') {