diff --git a/doc/manual/index.docbook b/doc/manual/index.docbook
index 9cc197505..e3fedd101 100644
--- a/doc/manual/index.docbook
+++ b/doc/manual/index.docbook
@@ -906,6 +906,12 @@ title: This is the title;; command: run me
 </para></listitem>
 </varlistentry>
 
+<varlistentry>
+<term><option>--notransparency</option></term>
+<listitem><para><action>Disable</action> transparent backgrounds, even if the system supports them.
+</para></listitem>
+</varlistentry>
+
 <varlistentry>
 <term><option>--hold, --noclose</option></term>
 <listitem><para><action>Do not close</action> the initial session automatically when it ends.
diff --git a/src/MainWindow.cpp b/src/MainWindow.cpp
index 6d35fcd59..88b285095 100644
--- a/src/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@
 
 using namespace Konsole;
 
+static bool useTransparency()
+{
+    const KCmdLineArgs* args = KCmdLineArgs::parsedArgs();
+    const bool compositingAvailable = KWindowSystem::compositingActive();
+    return compositingAvailable && args->isSet("transparency");
+}
+
 MainWindow::MainWindow()
     : KXmlGuiWindow()
     , _bookmarkHandler(0)
@@ -65,10 +72,12 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow()
     , _menuBarInitialVisibility(true)
     , _menuBarInitialVisibilityApplied(false)
 {
-    // It is userful to have translucent terminal area
-    setAttribute(Qt::WA_TranslucentBackground, true);
-    // But it is mostly annoying to have translucent menubar and tabbar
-    setAttribute(Qt::WA_NoSystemBackground, false);
+    if (useTransparency()) {
+        // It is userful to have translucent terminal area
+        setAttribute(Qt::WA_TranslucentBackground, true);
+        // But it is mostly annoying to have translucent menubar and tabbar
+        setAttribute(Qt::WA_NoSystemBackground, false);
+    }
 
     // create actions for menus
     setupActions();
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index a416d21ca..f1ad8de37 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ void fillCommandLineOptions(KCmdLineOptions& options)
     options.add("hide-menubar", ki18n("Hide the menubar, overriding the default setting"));
     options.add("show-tabbar", ki18n("Show the tabbar, overriding the default setting"));
     options.add("hide-tabbar", ki18n("Hide the tabbar, overriding the default setting"));
+    options.add("notransparency",
+                ki18n("Disable transparent backgrounds, even if the system"
+                      " supports them."));
     options.add("list-profiles", ki18n("List the available profiles"));
     options.add("list-profile-properties",
                 ki18n("List all the profile properties names and their type"