diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 4a09b32..0a9e478 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ dofile(modpath.."/register.lua")
 if minetest.settings:get_bool("unified_inventory_bags") ~= false then
 	dofile(modpath.."/bags.lua")
 end
-
-dofile(modpath.."/item_names.lua")
+if minetest.settings:get_bool("unified_inventory_enable_item_names") == true then
+	dofile(modpath.."/item_names.lua")
+end 
 dofile(modpath.."/waypoints.lua")
 dofile(modpath.."/legacy.lua") -- mod compatibility
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 5ab7f84..a8fd458 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ unified_inventory_hide_disabled_buttons (Hide disabled buttons) bool false
 
 
 unified_inventory_automatic_categorization (Items automatically added to categories) bool true
+
+unified_inventory_enable_item_names (Item names are shown above hotbar) bool true