diff --git a/aoapplication.h b/aoapplication.h
index d94cd2a..33d18c7 100644
--- a/aoapplication.h
+++ b/aoapplication.h
@@ -140,6 +140,9 @@ public:
   // Returns the username the user may have set in config.ini.
   QString get_default_username();
 
+  // Returns whether the user would like to have custom shownames on by default.
+  bool get_showname_enabled_by_default();
+
   //Returns the list of words in callwords.ini
   QStringList get_call_words();
 
diff --git a/courtroom.cpp b/courtroom.cpp
index f9259b7..ec1393b 100644
--- a/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/courtroom.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,11 @@ Courtroom::Courtroom(AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QMainWindow()
   ui_guard->setText("Guard");
   ui_guard->hide();
 
+  ui_showname_enable = new QCheckBox(this);
+  ui_showname_enable->setChecked(ao_app->get_showname_enabled_by_default());
+  ui_showname_enable->setText("Custom shownames");
+  ui_showname_enable;
+
   ui_custom_objection = new AOButton(this, ao_app);
   ui_realization = new AOButton(this, ao_app);
   ui_mute = new AOButton(this, ao_app);
@@ -278,6 +283,8 @@ Courtroom::Courtroom(AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QMainWindow()
   connect(ui_flip, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(on_flip_clicked()));
   connect(ui_guard, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(on_guard_clicked()));
 
+  connect(ui_showname_enable, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(on_showname_enable_clicked()));
+
   connect(ui_evidence_button, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(on_evidence_button_clicked()));
 
   set_widgets();
@@ -489,6 +496,8 @@ void Courtroom::set_widgets()
 
   set_size_and_pos(ui_guard, "guard");
 
+  set_size_and_pos(ui_showname_enable, "showname_enable");
+
   set_size_and_pos(ui_custom_objection, "custom_objection");
   ui_custom_objection->set_image("custom.png");
 
@@ -985,7 +994,7 @@ void Courtroom::handle_chatmessage(QStringList *p_contents)
     return;
 
   QString f_showname;
-  if (m_chatmessage[SHOWNAME].isEmpty())
+  if (m_chatmessage[SHOWNAME].isEmpty() || !ui_showname_enable->isChecked())
   {
       f_showname = ao_app->get_showname(char_list.at(f_char_id).name);
   }
@@ -1077,7 +1086,7 @@ void Courtroom::handle_chatmessage_2()
   ui_vp_speedlines->stop();
   ui_vp_player_char->stop();
 
-  if (m_chatmessage[SHOWNAME].isEmpty())
+  if (m_chatmessage[SHOWNAME].isEmpty() || !ui_showname_enable->isChecked())
   {
       QString real_name = char_list.at(m_chatmessage[CHAR_ID].toInt()).name;
 
@@ -2497,6 +2506,11 @@ void Courtroom::on_guard_clicked()
   ui_ic_chat_message->setFocus();
 }
 
+void Courtroom::on_showname_enable_clicked()
+{
+  ui_ic_chat_message->setFocus();
+}
+
 void Courtroom::on_evidence_button_clicked()
 {
   if (ui_evidence->isHidden())
diff --git a/courtroom.h b/courtroom.h
index eb6638a..4b47558 100644
--- a/courtroom.h
+++ b/courtroom.h
@@ -351,6 +351,8 @@ private:
   QCheckBox *ui_flip;
   QCheckBox *ui_guard;
 
+  QCheckBox *ui_showname_enable;
+
   AOButton *ui_custom_objection;
   AOButton *ui_realization;
   AOButton *ui_mute;
@@ -500,6 +502,8 @@ private slots:
   void on_flip_clicked();
   void on_guard_clicked();
 
+  void on_showname_enable_clicked();
+
   void on_evidence_button_clicked();
 
   void on_evidence_delete_clicked();
diff --git a/text_file_functions.cpp b/text_file_functions.cpp
index 1389cf5..8ddeb6c 100644
--- a/text_file_functions.cpp
+++ b/text_file_functions.cpp
@@ -102,13 +102,13 @@ int AOApplication::get_max_log_size()
 bool AOApplication::get_log_goes_downwards()
 {
     QString f_result = read_config("log_goes_downwards");
+    return f_result.startsWith("true");
+}
 
-    if (f_result == "true")
-        return true;
-    else if (f_result == "false")
-        return false;
-    else
-        return true;
+bool AOApplication::get_showname_enabled_by_default()
+{
+    QString f_result = read_config("show_custom_shownames");
+    return f_result.startsWith("true");
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_default_username()