diff --git a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/ComposeMessageFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/ComposeMessageFragment.java
index aeea76c..7a57892 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/ComposeMessageFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/ComposeMessageFragment.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 import ch.dissem.apps.abit.adapter.ContactAdapter;
 import ch.dissem.apps.abit.dialog.SelectEncodingDialogFragment;
 import ch.dissem.apps.abit.service.Singleton;
+import ch.dissem.apps.abit.util.Preferences;
 import ch.dissem.bitmessage.BitmessageContext;
 import ch.dissem.bitmessage.entity.BitmessageAddress;
 import ch.dissem.bitmessage.entity.Plaintext;
@@ -227,6 +228,9 @@ public class ComposeMessageFragment extends Fragment {
                 .from(identity)
                 .to(recipient);
         }
+        if (!Preferences.requestAcknowledgements(getContext())){
+            builder.preventAck();
+        }
         switch (encoding) {
             case SIMPLE:
                 builder.message(
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Constants.java b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Constants.java
index 5180a4d..0ce5bd6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Constants.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Constants.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ public class Constants {
     public static final String PREFERENCE_SYNC_TIMEOUT = "sync_timeout";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_SERVER_POW = "server_pow";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_FULL_NODE = "full_node";
+    public static final String PREFERENCE_REQUEST_ACK = "request_acknowledgments";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_POW_AVERAGE = "average_pow_time_ms";
     public static final String PREFERENCE_POW_COUNT = "pow_count";
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Preferences.kt b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Preferences.kt
index a37a79e..cb93e6b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Preferences.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/ch/dissem/apps/abit/util/Preferences.kt
@@ -122,6 +122,18 @@ object Preferences {
         return File(ctx.filesDir, "exports")
     }
 
+    @JvmStatic
+    fun requestAcknowledgements(ctx: Context): Boolean {
+        val preferences = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(ctx)
+        return preferences.getBoolean(PREFERENCE_REQUEST_ACK, true)
+    }
+
+    @JvmStatic
+    fun setRequestAcknowledgements(ctx: Context, status: Boolean) {
+        val preferences = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(ctx)
+        preferences.edit().putBoolean(PREFERENCE_REQUEST_ACK, status).apply()
+    }
+
     @JvmStatic
     fun cleanupExportDirectory(ctx: Context) {
         val exportDirectory = getExportDirectory(ctx)
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences.xml b/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences.xml
index c86a5fa..8c56a4c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/xml/preferences.xml
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@
         android:key="wifi_only"
         android:summary="@string/wifi_only_summary"
         android:title="@string/wifi_only"/>
+    <SwitchPreferenceCompat
+        android:defaultValue="true"
+        android:key="request_acknowledgements"
+        android:summary="@string/request_acknowledgements_summary"
+        android:title="@string/request_acknowledgements"/>
     <EditTextPreference
         android:inputType="textUri"
         android:key="trusted_node"