diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
index 169db022b..504435933 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import android.os.Handler;
 import android.os.Looper;
 import android.text.format.Time;
 import android.util.Log;
-import android.webkit.WebSettings;
 
 import com.fsck.k9.activity.MessageCompose;
 import com.fsck.k9.controller.MessagingController;
@@ -180,13 +179,6 @@ public class K9 extends Application
     private static boolean useGalleryBugWorkaround = false;
     private static boolean galleryBuggy;
 
-    /**
-     * We use WebSettings.getBlockNetworkLoads() to prevent the WebView that displays email
-     * bodies from loading external resources over the network. Unfortunately this method
-     * isn't exposed via the official Android API. That's why we use reflection to be able
-     * to call the method.
-     */
-    private static final Method mGetBlockNetworkLoads = getMethod(WebSettings.class, "setBlockNetworkLoads");
 
     /**
      * The MIME type(s) of attachments we're willing to view.
@@ -948,12 +940,11 @@ public class K9 extends Application
         mMessageViewReturnToList = messageViewReturnToList;
     }
 
-    private static Method getMethod(Class<?> classObject, String methodName)
+    public static Method getMethod(Class<?> classObject, String methodName)
     {
         try
         {
-            Method method = classObject.getMethod(methodName, boolean.class);
-            return method;
+            return classObject.getMethod(methodName, boolean.class);
         }
         catch (NoSuchMethodException e)
         {
@@ -968,21 +959,6 @@ public class K9 extends Application
         return null;
     }
 
-    public static void setBlockNetworkLoads(WebSettings webSettings, boolean state)
-    {
-        if (mGetBlockNetworkLoads != null)
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                mGetBlockNetworkLoads.invoke(webSettings, state);
-            }
-            catch (Exception e)
-            {
-                Log.e(K9.LOG_TAG, "Error on invoking WebSettings.setBlockNetworkLoads()", e);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     public static FontSizes getFontSizes()
     {
         return fontSizes;
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageView.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageView.java
index 3e36aa7fd..443d41b00 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageView.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageView.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
 import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.HashSet;
@@ -100,6 +101,14 @@ public class MessageView extends K9Activity implements OnClickListener
     private static final String SHOW_PICTURES = "showPictures";
     private static final String STATE_PGP_DATA = "pgpData";
 
+    /**
+     * We use WebSettings.getBlockNetworkLoads() to prevent the WebView that displays email
+     * bodies from loading external resources over the network. Unfortunately this method
+     * isn't exposed via the official Android API. That's why we use reflection to be able
+     * to call the method.
+     */
+    private static final Method mGetBlockNetworkLoads = K9.getMethod(WebSettings.class, "setBlockNetworkLoads");
+
     private static final int ACTIVITY_CHOOSE_FOLDER_MOVE = 1;
     private static final int ACTIVITY_CHOOSE_FOLDER_COPY = 2;
 
@@ -1867,8 +1876,7 @@ public class MessageView extends K9Activity implements OnClickListener
      */
     private void setLoadPictures(boolean enable)
     {
-        K9.setBlockNetworkLoads(mMessageContentView.getSettings(), !enable);
-        mMessageContentView.getSettings().setBlockNetworkImage(!enable);
+        blockNetworkDataInWebView(mMessageContentView, !enable);
         mShowPictures = enable;
         mHandler.showShowPictures(false);
     }
@@ -2807,6 +2815,39 @@ public class MessageView extends K9Activity implements OnClickListener
 
         webSettings.setTextSize(K9.getFontSizes().getMessageViewContent());
 
+        // Disable network images by default.  This is overriden by preferences.
+        blockNetworkDataInWebView(view, true);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Configure a web view to load or not load network data. A <b>true</b> setting here means that
+     * network data will be blocked.
+     * @param view {@link android.webkit.WebView} to adjust network data settings on.
+     * @param shouldBlockNetworkData True if network data should be blocked, false to allow network data.
+     */
+    public static void blockNetworkDataInWebView(final WebView view, final boolean shouldBlockNetworkData)
+    {
+        // Sanity check to make sure we don't blow up.
+        if (view == null || view.getSettings() == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Block network loads.
+        if (mGetBlockNetworkLoads != null)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                mGetBlockNetworkLoads.invoke(view.getSettings(), shouldBlockNetworkData);
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Log.e(K9.LOG_TAG, "Error on invoking WebSettings.setBlockNetworkLoads()", e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Block network images.
+        view.getSettings().setBlockNetworkImage(shouldBlockNetworkData);
     }
 
 }