diff --git a/i3bar/include/config.h b/i3bar/include/config.h
index d6abb45c..b3473917 100644
--- a/i3bar/include/config.h
+++ b/i3bar/include/config.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ typedef struct config_t {
     dockpos_t    dockpos;
     int          verbose;
     xcb_colors_t *colors;
+    int          disable_ws;
 } config_t;
 
 config_t config;
diff --git a/i3bar/src/ipc.c b/i3bar/src/ipc.c
index c6a85cf5..d06864c7 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/ipc.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/ipc.c
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ void got_workspace_event(char *event) {
 void got_output_event(char *event) {
     DLOG("Got Output Event!\n");
     i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_OUTPUTS, NULL);
-    i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_WORKSPACES, NULL);
+    if (!config.disable_ws) {
+        i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_WORKSPACES, NULL);
+    }
 }
 
 /* Data-structure to easily call the reply-handlers later */
@@ -311,5 +313,9 @@ void destroy_connection() {
  *
  */
 void subscribe_events() {
-    i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_SUBSCRIBE, "[ \"workspace\", \"output\" ]");
+    if (config.disable_ws) {
+        i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_SUBSCRIBE, "[ \"output\" ]");
+    } else {
+        i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_SUBSCRIBE, "[ \"workspace\", \"output\" ]");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/i3bar/src/main.c b/i3bar/src/main.c
index ad8a9993..4a859254 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/main.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/main.c
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ void print_usage(char *elf_name) {
     printf("\t\tIf -c is specified, the childprocess is sent a SIGSTOP on hiding,\n");
     printf("\t\tand a SIGCONT on unhiding of the bars\n");
     printf("-f <font>\tUse X-Core-Font <font> for display\n");
+    printf("-w\t\tDisable workspace-buttons\n");
     printf("-V\t\tBe (very) verbose with the debug-output\n");
     printf("-h\t\tDisplay this help-message and exit\n");
 }
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     /* Definition of the standard-config */
     config.hide_on_modifier = 0;
     config.dockpos = DOCKPOS_NONE;
+    config.disable_ws = 0;
 
     static struct option long_opt[] = {
         { "socket",               required_argument, 0, 's' },
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         { "hide",                 no_argument,       0, 'm' },
         { "dock",                 optional_argument, 0, 'd' },
         { "font",                 required_argument, 0, 'f' },
+        { "nows",                 no_argument,       0, 'w' },
         { "help",                 no_argument,       0, 'h' },
         { "version",              no_argument,       0, 'v' },
         { "verbose",              no_argument,       0, 'V' },
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         { NULL,                   0,                 0, 0}
     };
 
-    while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argv, "s:c:d::mf:hvVA:B:C:D:E:F:G:H:I:J:", long_opt, &option_index)) != -1) {
+    while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argv, "s:c:d::mf:whvVA:B:C:D:E:F:G:H:I:J:", long_opt, &option_index)) != -1) {
         switch (opt) {
             case 's':
                 socket_path = expand_path(optarg);
@@ -177,6 +180,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
             case 'f':
                 fontname = strdup(optarg);
                 break;
+            case 'w':
+                config.disable_ws = 1;
+                break;
             case 'v':
                 printf("i3bar version " I3BAR_VERSION " © 2010 Axel Wagner and contributors\n");
                 exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
@@ -263,7 +269,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
      * workspaces. Everything else (creating the bars, showing the right workspace-
      * buttons and more) is taken care of by the event-driveniness of the code */
     i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_OUTPUTS, NULL);
-    i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_WORKSPACES, NULL);
+    if (!config.disable_ws) {
+        i3_send_msg(I3_IPC_MESSAGE_TYPE_GET_WORKSPACES, NULL);
+    }
 
     /* The name of this function is actually misleading. Even if no -c is specified,
      * this function initiates the watchers to listen on stdin and react accordingly */
diff --git a/i3bar/src/xcb.c b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
index 2da2e6f7..e7c08060 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/xcb.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/xcb.c
@@ -744,8 +744,10 @@ void reconfig_windows() {
             /* If hide_on_modifier is set, i3 is not supposed to manage our bar-windows */
             values[1] = config.hide_on_modifier;
             /* The events we want to receive */
-            values[2] = XCB_EVENT_MASK_EXPOSURE |
-                        XCB_EVENT_MASK_BUTTON_PRESS;
+            values[2] = XCB_EVENT_MASK_EXPOSURE;
+            if (!config.disable_ws) {
+                values[2] |= XCB_EVENT_MASK_BUTTON_PRESS;
+            }
             xcb_void_cookie_t win_cookie = xcb_create_window_checked(xcb_connection,
                                                                      xcb_screen->root_depth,
                                                                      walk->bar,
@@ -932,6 +934,10 @@ void draw_bars() {
                           MIN(outputs_walk->rect.w - 4, statusline_width), font_height);
         }
 
+        if (config.disable_ws) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
         i3_ws *ws_walk;
         TAILQ_FOREACH(ws_walk, outputs_walk->workspaces, tailq) {
             DLOG("Drawing Button for WS %s at x = %d\n", ws_walk->name, i);
@@ -978,10 +984,10 @@ void draw_bars() {
             i += 10 + ws_walk->name_width;
         }
 
-        redraw_bars();
-
         i = 0;
     }
+
+    redraw_bars();
 }
 
 /*