diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index ef56f99bf..39cc22d62 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1475,7 +1475,7 @@ mapgen_limit (Map generation limit) int 31000 0 31000
 #    Global map generation attributes.
 #    In Mapgen v6 the 'decorations' flag controls all decorations except trees
 #    and junglegrass, in all other mapgens this flag controls all decorations.
-mg_flags (Mapgen flags) flags caves,dungeons,light,decorations,biomes caves,dungeons,light,decorations,biomes,nocaves,nodungeons,nolight,nodecorations,nobiomes
+mg_flags (Mapgen flags) flags caves,dungeons,light,decorations,biomes,ores caves,dungeons,light,decorations,biomes,ores,nocaves,nodungeons,nolight,nodecorations,nobiomes,noores
 
 [*Biome API temperature and humidity noise parameters]
 
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen.cpp
index f57529082..52ef64e7e 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ FlagDesc flagdesc_mapgen[] = {
 	{"light",       MG_LIGHT},
 	{"decorations", MG_DECORATIONS},
 	{"biomes",      MG_BIOMES},
+	{"ores",        MG_ORES},
 	{NULL,          0}
 };
 
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ void Mapgen::getMapgenNames(std::vector<const char *> *mgnames, bool include_hid
 void Mapgen::setDefaultSettings(Settings *settings)
 {
 	settings->setDefault("mg_flags", flagdesc_mapgen,
-		 MG_CAVES | MG_DUNGEONS | MG_LIGHT | MG_DECORATIONS | MG_BIOMES);
+		 MG_CAVES | MG_DUNGEONS | MG_LIGHT | MG_DECORATIONS | MG_BIOMES | MG_ORES);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < (int)MAPGEN_INVALID; ++i) {
 		MapgenParams *params = createMapgenParams((MapgenType)i);
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen.h b/src/mapgen/mapgen.h
index a92b3b0d0..0f2977c4c 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen.h
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #define MG_LIGHT       0x10
 #define MG_DECORATIONS 0x20
 #define MG_BIOMES      0x40
+#define MG_ORES        0x80
 
 typedef u16 biome_t;  // copy from mg_biome.h to avoid an unnecessary include
 
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_carpathian.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_carpathian.cpp
index feb9b428c..74ed263ba 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_carpathian.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_carpathian.cpp
@@ -315,7 +315,8 @@ void MapgenCarpathian::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Generate dungeons
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_flat.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_flat.cpp
index df6469ad9..d62548014 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_flat.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_flat.cpp
@@ -264,7 +264,8 @@ void MapgenFlat::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)
 		generateDungeons(stone_surface_max_y);
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
index cb55bc288..3b6bbd6c1 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ void MapgenFractal::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Generate dungeons
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v5.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v5.cpp
index 124667e5d..0f6a19fa1 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v5.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v5.cpp
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ void MapgenV5::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Generate dungeons and desert temples
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v6.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v6.cpp
index e9692246c..8bea5eb69 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v6.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v6.cpp
@@ -652,7 +652,8 @@ void MapgenV6::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 		m_emerge->decomgr->placeAllDecos(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Calculate lighting
 	if (flags & MG_LIGHT)
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v7.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v7.cpp
index e93dc9140..a1fe25ab6 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_v7.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_v7.cpp
@@ -377,7 +377,8 @@ void MapgenV7::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Generate dungeons
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_valleys.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_valleys.cpp
index efcc8ee85..d7b6f738f 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_valleys.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_valleys.cpp
@@ -268,7 +268,8 @@ void MapgenValleys::makeChunk(BlockMakeData *data)
 	}
 
 	// Generate the registered ores
-	m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
+	if (flags & MG_ORES)
+		m_emerge->oremgr->placeAllOres(this, blockseed, node_min, node_max);
 
 	// Dungeon creation
 	if (flags & MG_DUNGEONS)