diff --git a/docs/Core.rst b/docs/Core.rst
index 5decd668d..62b91c19c 100644
--- a/docs/Core.rst
+++ b/docs/Core.rst
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ double quotes.  To include a double quote character, use ``\"``.
 If the first non-whitespace character is ``:``, the command is parsed in
 an alternative mode.  The non-whitespace characters following the ``:`` are
 the command name, and the remaining part of the line is used verbatim as
-the first argument.  This is very useful for the `lua` and `rb` commands.
+the first argument.  This is very useful for the `lua` command.
 As an example, the following two command lines are exactly equivalent::
 
   :foo a b "c d" e f
@@ -306,6 +306,23 @@ the root DF folder.
 Note that ``script-paths.txt`` is only read at startup, but the paths can also be
 modified programmatically at any time through the `Lua API <lua-api-internal>`.
 
+Commandline options
+===================
+
+In addition to `Using an OS terminal`_ to execute commands on startup, DFHack
+also recognizes a single commandline option that can be specified on the
+commandline:
+
+- ``--disable-dfhack``: If this option is passed on the Dwarf Fortress
+  commandline, then DFHack will be disabled for the session. You will have to
+  restart Dwarf Fortress without specifying this option in order to use DFHack.
+  If you are launching Dwarf Fortress from Steam, you can enter the option in
+  the "Launch Options" text box in the properties for the Dwarf Fortress app.
+  Note that if you do this, DFHack will be disabled regardless of whether you
+  run Dwarf Fortress from its own app or DFHack's. You will have to clear the
+  DF Launch Options in order to use DFHack again. Note that even if DFHack is
+  disabled, :file:`stdout.txt` and :file:`stderr.txt` will still be redirected
+  to :file:`stdout.log` and :file:`stderr.log`, respectively.
 
 .. _env-vars:
 
diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index fc706cdba..d602ed93a 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ changelog.txt uses a syntax similar to RST, with a few special sequences:
 ## Misc Improvements
 - Terminal console no longer appears in front of the game window on startup
 - `gui/design`: Improved performance for drawing shapes
+- ``Core``: For debugging purposes, you can now pass ``--disable-dfhack`` on the Dwarf Fortress commandline to disable DFHack for the session.
 
 ## Documentation
 
diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index 9ff6976d5..256493dce 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -1471,16 +1471,8 @@ std::string Core::getHackPath()
 #endif
 }
 
-bool Core::Init()
-{
-    if(started)
-        return true;
-    if(errorstate)
-        return false;
-
-    // Lock the CoreSuspendMutex until the thread exits or call Core::Shutdown
-    // Core::Update will temporary unlock when there is any commands queued
-    MainThread::suspend().lock();
+bool Core::InitMainThread() {
+    Filesystem::init();
 
     // Re-route stdout and stderr again - DF seems to set up stdout and
     // stderr.txt on Windows as of 0.43.05. Also, log before switching files to
@@ -1496,8 +1488,6 @@ bool Core::Init()
     if (!freopen("stderr.log", "w", stderr))
         std::cerr << "Could not redirect stderr to stderr.log" << std::endl;
 
-    Filesystem::init();
-
     std::cerr << "DFHack build: " << Version::git_description() << "\n"
          << "Starting with working directory: " << Filesystem::getcwd() << std::endl;
 
@@ -1566,6 +1556,20 @@ bool Core::Init()
     // Init global object pointers
     df::global::InitGlobals();
 
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool Core::InitSimulationThread()
+{
+    if(started)
+        return true;
+    if(errorstate)
+        return false;
+
+    // Lock the CoreSuspendMutex until the thread exits or call Core::Shutdown
+    // Core::Update will temporary unlock when there is any commands queued
+    MainThread::suspend().lock();
+
     std::cerr << "Initializing Console.\n";
     // init the console.
     bool is_text_mode = (init && init->display.flag.is_set(init_display_flags::TEXT));
@@ -1965,7 +1969,7 @@ int Core::Update()
         if(!started)
         {
             // Initialize the core
-            Init();
+            InitSimulationThread();
             if(errorstate)
                 return -1;
         }
diff --git a/library/Hooks.cpp b/library/Hooks.cpp
index c241e4875..1976d60d7 100644
--- a/library/Hooks.cpp
+++ b/library/Hooks.cpp
@@ -1,31 +1,49 @@
 #include "Core.h"
 #include "Export.h"
 
+#include "df/gamest.h"
+
+static bool disabled = false;
+
 // called from the main thread before the simulation thread is started
 // and the main event loop is initiated
 DFhackCExport void dfhooks_init() {
-    // TODO: initialize things we need to do while still in the main thread
+    if (!DFHack::Core::getInstance().InitMainThread() || !df::global::game)
+        return;
+    const std::string & cmdline = df::global::game->command_line.original;
+    if (cmdline.find("--disable-dfhack") != std::string::npos) {
+        fprintf(stdout, "dfhack: --disable-dfhack specified on commandline; disabling\n");
+        disabled = true;
+    }
 }
 
 // called from the main thread after the main event loops exits
 DFhackCExport void dfhooks_shutdown() {
+    if (disabled)
+        return;
     DFHack::Core::getInstance().Shutdown();
 }
 
 // called from the simulation thread in the main event loop
 DFhackCExport void dfhooks_update() {
+    if (disabled)
+        return;
     DFHack::Core::getInstance().Update();
 }
 
 // called from the simulation thread just before adding the macro
 // recording/playback overlay
 DFhackCExport void dfhooks_prerender() {
+    if (disabled)
+        return;
     // TODO: render overlay widgets that are not attached to a viewscreen
 }
 
 // called from the main thread for each SDL event. if true is returned, then
 // the event has been consumed and further processing shouldn't happen
 DFhackCExport bool dfhooks_sdl_event(SDL::Event* event) {
+    if (disabled)
+        return false;
     return DFHack::Core::getInstance().DFH_SDL_Event(event);
 }
 
@@ -34,5 +52,7 @@ DFhackCExport bool dfhooks_sdl_event(SDL::Event* event) {
 // if true is returned, then the event has been consumed and further processing
 // shouldn't happen
 DFhackCExport bool dfhooks_ncurses_key(int key) {
+    if (disabled)
+        return false;
     return DFHack::Core::getInstance().DFH_ncurses_key(key);
 }
diff --git a/library/include/Core.h b/library/include/Core.h
index 386769fcb..696be4ead 100644
--- a/library/include/Core.h
+++ b/library/include/Core.h
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ namespace DFHack
         struct Private;
         std::unique_ptr<Private> d;
 
-        bool Init();
+        bool InitMainThread();
+        bool InitSimulationThread();
         int Update (void);
         int Shutdown (void);
         bool DFH_SDL_Event(SDL::Event* event);