diff --git a/ankiqt/config.py b/ankiqt/config.py
index d8a37f04c..8e171bca7 100644
--- a/ankiqt/config.py
+++ b/ankiqt/config.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class Config(dict):
         fields = {
             'addZeroSpace': False,
             'alternativeTheme': False,
+            'autoplaySounds': True,
             'checkForUpdates': True,
             'colourTimes': True,
             'created': time.time(),
diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/clayout.py b/ankiqt/ui/clayout.py
index 3d36b2d4c..046799966 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/clayout.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/clayout.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ order by n""", id=card.id)
                       c)
             + "</body></html>")
         clearAudioQueue()
-        if not self.playedAudio:
+        if not self.playedAudio and self.mw.config['autoplaySounds']:
             playFromText(c.question)
             playFromText(c.answer)
             self.playedAudio = True
diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/preferences.py b/ankiqt/ui/preferences.py
index 30f78d10a..a21f5a3a3 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/preferences.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/preferences.py
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
         self.dialog.deckBrowserOrder.setChecked(self.config['deckBrowserOrder'])
         self.dialog.deleteMedia.setChecked(self.config['deleteMedia'])
         self.dialog.stripHTML.setChecked(self.config['stripHTML'])
+        self.dialog.autoplaySounds.setChecked(self.config['autoplaySounds'])
         self.dialog.deckBrowserLen.setValue(self.config['deckBrowserNameLength'])
 
     def updateAdvanced(self):
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
         self.config['showProgress'] = self.dialog.showProgress.isChecked()
         self.config['preventEditUntilAnswer'] = self.dialog.preventEdits.isChecked()
         self.config['stripHTML'] = self.dialog.stripHTML.isChecked()
+        self.config['autoplaySounds'] = self.dialog.autoplaySounds.isChecked()
         self.config['loadLastDeck'] = self.dialog.openLastDeck.isChecked()
         if self.dialog.deckBrowserOrder.isChecked():
             self.config['deckBrowserOrder'] = 1
diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/view.py b/ankiqt/ui/view.py
index b7afd2fa0..705114e95 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/view.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/view.py
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ class View(object):
             height = 45
         q = runFilter("drawQuestion", q, self.main.currentCard)
         self.write(self.center(self.mungeQA(self.main.deck, q), height))
-        if self.state != self.oldState and not nosound:
+        if (self.state != self.oldState and not nosound
+            and self.main.config['autoplaySounds']):
             playFromText(q)
 
     def correct(self, a, b):
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ class View(object):
                 a = res + "<br>" + a
         self.write(self.center('<span id=answer />'
                                + self.mungeQA(self.main.deck, a)))
-        if self.state != self.oldState:
+        if self.state != self.oldState and self.main.config['autoplaySounds']:
             playFromText(a)
 
     def mungeQA(self, deck, txt):
diff --git a/designer/preferences.ui b/designer/preferences.ui
index a30268e37..cbd1a6c90 100644
--- a/designer/preferences.ui
+++ b/designer/preferences.ui
@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QCheckBox" name="autoplaySounds">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>Automatically play audio</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
        <item>
         <widget class="QLabel" name="label_6">
          <property name="text">
@@ -697,6 +704,7 @@
   <tabstop>showEstimates</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showProgress</tabstop>
   <tabstop>preventEdits</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>autoplaySounds</tabstop>
   <tabstop>mediaChoice</tabstop>
   <tabstop>mediaPath</tabstop>
   <tabstop>syncUser</tabstop>