diff --git a/src/mumble/Overlay_win.cpp b/src/mumble/Overlay_win.cpp
index 002891fc3..4b5dda0bd 100644
--- a/src/mumble/Overlay_win.cpp
+++ b/src/mumble/Overlay_win.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ static bool canRun64BitPrograms() {
 }
 
 OverlayPrivateWin::OverlayPrivateWin(QObject *p) : OverlayPrivate(p) {
-	m_allow64bit = canRun64BitPrograms();
 	m_active = false;
 
 	m_helper_exe_path = QString::fromLatin1("%1/mumble_ol.exe").arg(qApp->applicationDirPath());
@@ -92,6 +91,11 @@ OverlayPrivateWin::OverlayPrivateWin(QObject *p) : OverlayPrivate(p) {
 	m_helper_restart_timer->setSingleShot(true);
 	connect(m_helper_restart_timer, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(onDelayedRestartTimerTriggered()));
 
+	if (!g.s.bOverlayWinHelperX86Enable) {
+		qWarning("OverlayPrivateWin: mumble_ol.exe (32-bit overlay helper) disabled via 'overlay_win/enable_x86_helper' config option.");
+		m_helper_enabled = false;
+	}
+
 	m_helper64_exe_path = QString::fromLatin1("%1/mumble_ol_x64.exe").arg(qApp->applicationDirPath());
 	m_helper64_exe_args = m_helper_exe_args;
 	m_helper64_process = new QProcess(this);
@@ -108,6 +112,14 @@ OverlayPrivateWin::OverlayPrivateWin(QObject *p) : OverlayPrivate(p) {
 	m_helper64_restart_timer = new QTimer(this);
 	m_helper64_restart_timer->setSingleShot(true);
 	connect(m_helper64_restart_timer, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(onDelayedRestartTimerTriggered()));
+
+	if (!canRun64BitPrograms()) {
+		qWarning("OverlayPrivateWin: mumble_ol_x64.exe (64-bit overlay helper) disabled because the host is not x64 capable.");
+		m_helper64_enabled = false;
+	} else if (!g.s.bOverlayWinHelperX64Enable) {
+		qWarning("OverlayPrivateWin: mumble_ol_x64.exe (64-bit overlay helper) disabled via 'overlay_win/enable_x64_helper' config option.");
+		m_helper64_enabled = false;
+	}
 }
 
 OverlayPrivateWin::~OverlayPrivateWin() {
@@ -133,13 +145,17 @@ void OverlayPrivateWin::setActive(bool active) {
 		m_active = active;
 
 		if (m_active) {
-			startHelper(m_helper_process);
-			if (m_allow64bit) {
+			if (m_helper_enabled) {
+				startHelper(m_helper_process);
+			}
+			if (m_helper64_enabled) {
 				startHelper(m_helper64_process);
 			}
 		} else {
-			m_helper_process->terminate();
-			if (m_allow64bit) {
+			if (m_helper_enabled) {
+				m_helper_process->terminate();
+			}
+			if (m_helper64_enabled) {
 				m_helper64_process->terminate();
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/mumble/Overlay_win.h b/src/mumble/Overlay_win.h
index 1041c2d2a..4fb6bd7c0 100644
--- a/src/mumble/Overlay_win.h
+++ b/src/mumble/Overlay_win.h
@@ -62,15 +62,16 @@ class OverlayPrivateWin : public OverlayPrivate {
 		QStringList m_helper_exe_args;
 		QElapsedTimer m_helper_start_time;
 		QTimer *m_helper_restart_timer;
+		bool m_helper_enabled;
 
 		QProcess *m_helper64_process;
 		QString m_helper64_exe_path;
 		QStringList m_helper64_exe_args;
 		QElapsedTimer m_helper64_start_time;
 		QTimer *m_helper64_restart_timer;
+		bool m_helper64_enabled;
 
 		bool m_active;
-		bool m_allow64bit;
 
 		void startHelper(QProcess *helper);
 };
diff --git a/src/mumble/Settings.cpp b/src/mumble/Settings.cpp
index 845be36b5..0c3a6e7cc 100644
--- a/src/mumble/Settings.cpp
+++ b/src/mumble/Settings.cpp
@@ -347,6 +347,8 @@ Settings::Settings() {
 
 	// OverlayPrivateWin
 	iOverlayWinHelperRestartCooldownMsec = 10000;
+	bOverlayWinHelperX86Enable = true;
+	bOverlayWinHelperX64Enable = true;
 
 	iLCDUserViewMinColWidth = 50;
 	iLCDUserViewSplitterWidth = 2;
@@ -702,6 +704,8 @@ void Settings::load(QSettings* settings_ptr) {
 
 	// OverlayPrivateWin
 	SAVELOAD(iOverlayWinHelperRestartCooldownMsec, "overlay_win/helper/restart_cooldown_msec");
+	SAVELOAD(bOverlayWinHelperX86Enable, "overlay_win/helper/x86/enable");
+	SAVELOAD(bOverlayWinHelperX64Enable, "overlay_win/helper/x64/enable");
 
 	// LCD
 	SAVELOAD(iLCDUserViewMinColWidth, "lcd/userview/mincolwidth");
@@ -997,6 +1001,8 @@ void Settings::save() {
 
 	// OverlayPrivateWin
 	SAVELOAD(iOverlayWinHelperRestartCooldownMsec, "overlay_win/helper/restart_cooldown_msec");
+	SAVELOAD(bOverlayWinHelperX86Enable, "overlay_win/helper/x86/enable");
+	SAVELOAD(bOverlayWinHelperX64Enable, "overlay_win/helper/x64/enable");
 
 	// LCD
 	SAVELOAD(iLCDUserViewMinColWidth, "lcd/userview/mincolwidth");
diff --git a/src/mumble/Settings.h b/src/mumble/Settings.h
index fda5a5c41..9c60b06b5 100644
--- a/src/mumble/Settings.h
+++ b/src/mumble/Settings.h
@@ -231,6 +231,8 @@ struct Settings {
 	OverlaySettings os;
 
 	int iOverlayWinHelperRestartCooldownMsec;
+	bool bOverlayWinHelperX86Enable;
+	bool bOverlayWinHelperX64Enable;
 
 	int iLCDUserViewMinColWidth;
 	int iLCDUserViewSplitterWidth;