diff --git a/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.h b/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.h
index b0c42b3..0411107 100644
--- a/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.h
+++ b/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 /** default: @c nil */ static NSString* const Pref_notificationType = @"notificationType";
 // ------ Appearance matrix ------ (Preferences > Appearance Tab) ------
 // menu buttons
+/** default: @c YES */ static NSString* const Pref_globalPauseUpdates     = @"globalPauseUpdates";
 /** default: @c  NO */ static NSString* const Pref_globalToggleHidden     = @"globalToggleHidden";
 /** default: @c YES */ static NSString* const Pref_globalUpdateAll        = @"globalUpdateAll";
 /** default: @c YES */ static NSString* const Pref_groupUpdateAll         = @"groupUpdateAll";
diff --git a/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.m b/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.m
index 207f776..4a1556d 100644
--- a/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.m
+++ b/baRSS/Helper/UserPrefs.m
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ void UserPrefsInit(void) {
 	NSMutableDictionary *defs = [NSMutableDictionary dictionary];
 	defaultsAppend(defs, @YES, @[
 		Pref_globalTintMenuIcon,
+		Pref_globalPauseUpdates,
 		Pref_globalUpdateAll,   Pref_groupUpdateAll,   Pref_feedUpdateAll,
 		Pref_globalOpenUnread,  Pref_groupOpenUnread,  Pref_feedOpenUnread,
 		Pref_globalMarkRead,    Pref_groupMarkRead,    Pref_feedMarkRead,
diff --git a/baRSS/Preferences/Appearance Tab/SettingsAppearanceView.m b/baRSS/Preferences/Appearance Tab/SettingsAppearanceView.m
index 328f524..8b1cd99 100644
--- a/baRSS/Preferences/Appearance Tab/SettingsAppearanceView.m	
+++ b/baRSS/Preferences/Appearance Tab/SettingsAppearanceView.m	
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@
 		RSSImageSettingsFeed, NSLocalizedString(@"Feed menu", nil),
 	]];
 	
+	[self entry:NSLocalizedString(@"“Pause updates”", nil)
+		   help:NSLocalizedString(@"Show button to temporarily disable feed updates. E.g., no distrations during focus hours.", nil)
+			tip:nil
+			 c1:Pref_globalPauseUpdates c2:nil c3:nil c4:nil];
+	
 	[self entry:NSLocalizedString(@"“Show hidden feeds”", nil)
 		   help:NSLocalizedString(@"Show button to quickly toggle whether hidden entries should be shown. See option “Show only unread”.", nil)
 			tip:NSLocalizedString(@"You can hold down option-key before opening the main menu to temporarily show all hidden entries.", nil)
diff --git a/baRSS/Status Bar Menu/BarStatusItem.m b/baRSS/Status Bar Menu/BarStatusItem.m
index f93da81..d0e318d 100644
--- a/baRSS/Status Bar Menu/BarStatusItem.m	
+++ b/baRSS/Status Bar Menu/BarStatusItem.m	
@@ -179,10 +179,12 @@
 
 - (void)insertMainMenuHeader:(NSMenu*)menu {
 	// 'Pause Updates' item
-	NSMenuItem *pause = [menu addItemWithTitle:NSLocalizedString(@"Pause updates", nil) action:@selector(pauseUpdates) keyEquivalent:@""];
-	pause.target = self;
-	if ([UpdateScheduler isPaused])
-		pause.title = NSLocalizedString(@"Resume updates", nil);
+	if (UserPrefsBool(Pref_globalPauseUpdates)) {
+		NSMenuItem *pause = [menu addItemWithTitle:NSLocalizedString(@"Pause updates", nil) action:@selector(pauseUpdates) keyEquivalent:@""];
+		pause.target = self;
+		if ([UpdateScheduler isPaused])
+			pause.title = NSLocalizedString(@"Resume updates", nil);
+	}
 	
 	// 'show hidden feeds' item
 	if (UserPrefsBool(Pref_globalToggleHidden)) {
@@ -197,8 +199,10 @@
 		}
 	}
 	
-	// Separator between main header and default header
-	[menu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+	if (menu.numberOfItems > 0) {
+		// Separator between main header and default header
+		[menu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+	}
 }
 
 /// Called when user clicks on 'Pause Updates' (main menu only).