diff --git a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
index bc4e28593..55972b7dd 100644
--- a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
+++ b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
@@ -137,6 +137,14 @@
                 android:entryValues="@array/settings_preview_lines_values"
                 android:dialogTitle="@string/global_settings_preview_lines_label"
                 />
+
+
+            <CheckBoxPreference
+                android:persistent="false"
+                android:key="messagelist_stars"
+                android:title="@string/global_settings_flag_label"
+                android:summary="@string/global_settings_flag_summary" />
+
             <CheckBoxPreference
                 android:persistent="false"
                 android:key="messagelist_checkboxes"
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
index 1484f8d2a..d07e6ead1 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
     }
 
     private static boolean mMessageListCheckboxes = true;
+    private static boolean mMessageListStars = true;
     private static int mMessageListPreviewLines = 2;
 
     private static boolean mShowCorrespondentNames = true;
@@ -504,6 +505,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         editor.putBoolean("countSearchMessages", mCountSearchMessages);
         editor.putBoolean("messageListSenderAboveSubject", mMessageListSenderAboveSubject);
         editor.putBoolean("hideSpecialAccounts", mHideSpecialAccounts);
+        editor.putBoolean("messageListStars", mMessageListStars);
         editor.putInt("messageListPreviewLines", mMessageListPreviewLines);
         editor.putBoolean("messageListCheckboxes", mMessageListCheckboxes);
         editor.putBoolean("showCorrespondentNames", mShowCorrespondentNames);
@@ -694,6 +696,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         mHideSpecialAccounts = sprefs.getBoolean("hideSpecialAccounts", false);
         mMessageListSenderAboveSubject = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListSenderAboveSubject", false);
         mMessageListCheckboxes = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListCheckboxes", true);
+        mMessageListStars = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListStars", true);
         mMessageListPreviewLines = sprefs.getInt("messageListPreviewLines", 2);
 
         mMobileOptimizedLayout = sprefs.getBoolean("mobileOptimizedLayout", false);
@@ -1050,7 +1053,6 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         mMessageListPreviewLines = lines;
     }
 
-
     public static boolean messageListCheckboxes() {
         return mMessageListCheckboxes;
     }
@@ -1059,6 +1061,14 @@ public class K9 extends Application {
         mMessageListCheckboxes = checkboxes;
     }
 
+    public static boolean messageListStars() {
+        return mMessageListStars;
+    }
+
+    public static void setMessageListStars(boolean stars) {
+        mMessageListStars = stars;
+    }
+
     public static boolean showCorrespondentNames() {
         return mShowCorrespondentNames;
     }
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/Accounts.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/Accounts.java
index 307ca0ace..4b2bf403b 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/Accounts.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/Accounts.java
@@ -1749,7 +1749,7 @@ public class Accounts extends K9ListActivity implements OnItemClickListener {
                 holder.newMessageCountWrapper.setVisibility(unreadMessageCount > 0 ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
 
                 holder.flaggedMessageCount.setText(Integer.toString(stats.flaggedMessageCount));
-                holder.flaggedMessageCountWrapper.setVisibility(stats.flaggedMessageCount > 0 ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
+                holder.flaggedMessageCountWrapper.setVisibility(K9.messageListStars() && stats.flaggedMessageCount > 0 ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
 
                 holder.flaggedMessageCountWrapper.setOnClickListener(createFlaggedSearchListener(account));
                 holder.newMessageCountWrapper.setOnClickListener(createUnreadSearchListener(account));
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/FolderList.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/FolderList.java
index 3d898749a..63b75ca2e 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/FolderList.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/FolderList.java
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ public class FolderList extends K9ListActivity {
                 holder.newMessageCountWrapper.setVisibility(View.GONE);
             }
 
-            if (folder.flaggedMessageCount > 0) {
+            if (K9.messageListStars() && folder.flaggedMessageCount > 0) {
                 holder.flaggedMessageCount.setText(Integer.toString(folder.flaggedMessageCount));
                 holder.flaggedMessageCountWrapper.setOnClickListener(
                         createFlaggedSearch(mAccount, folder));
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
index 69000e899..2cf5d7fad 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ public class MessageList extends K9FragmentActivity implements MessageListFragme
     private LocalSearch mSearch;
     private boolean mSingleFolderMode;
     private boolean mSingleAccountMode;
+    private boolean mStars = true;
+
     private ProgressBar mActionBarProgress;
     private MenuItem mMenuButtonCheckMail;
     private View mActionButtonIndeterminateProgress;
@@ -488,6 +490,7 @@ public class MessageList extends K9FragmentActivity implements MessageListFragme
     @Override
     public void onResume() {
         super.onResume();
+        mStars = K9.messageListStars();
 
         if (!(this instanceof Search)) {
             //necessary b/c no guarantee Search.onStop will be called before MessageList.onResume
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
index 13674a861..4c5db4ddf 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_CHECKBOXES = "messagelist_checkboxes";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_PREVIEW_LINES = "messagelist_preview_lines";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SENDER_ABOVE_SUBJECT = "messagelist_sender_above_subject";
+    private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_STARS = "messagelist_stars";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CORRESPONDENT_NAMES = "messagelist_show_correspondent_names";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CONTACT_NAME = "messagelist_show_contact_name";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_CONTACT_NAME_COLOR = "messagelist_contact_name_color";
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
     private ListPreference mPreviewLines;
     private CheckBoxPreference mSenderAboveSubject;
     private CheckBoxPreference mCheckboxes;
+    private CheckBoxPreference mStars;
     private CheckBoxPreference mShowCorrespondentNames;
     private CheckBoxPreference mShowContactName;
     private CheckBoxPreference mChangeContactNameColor;
@@ -240,6 +242,8 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
         mCheckboxes = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_CHECKBOXES);
         mCheckboxes.setChecked(K9.messageListCheckboxes());
 
+        mStars = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_STARS);
+        mStars.setChecked(K9.messageListStars());
 
         mShowCorrespondentNames = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_SHOW_CORRESPONDENT_NAMES);
         mShowCorrespondentNames.setChecked(K9.showCorrespondentNames());
@@ -459,6 +463,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity {
         K9.setHideSpecialAccounts(mHideSpecialAccounts.isChecked());
         K9.setMessageListPreviewLines(Integer.parseInt(mPreviewLines.getValue()));
         K9.setMessageListCheckboxes(mCheckboxes.isChecked());
+        K9.setMessageListStars(mStars.isChecked());
         K9.setShowCorrespondentNames(mShowCorrespondentNames.isChecked());
         K9.setMessageListSenderAboveSubject(mSenderAboveSubject.isChecked());
         K9.setShowContactName(mShowContactName.isChecked());
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
index 4f488b63a..46643c823 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/preferences/GlobalSettings.java
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ public class GlobalSettings {
         s.put("messageListPreviewLines", Settings.versions(
                 new V(1, new IntegerRangeSetting(1, 100, 2))
             ));
+        s.put("messageListStars", Settings.versions(
+                new V(1, new BooleanSetting(true))
+            ));
         s.put("messageViewFixedWidthFont", Settings.versions(
                 new V(1, new BooleanSetting(false))
             ));