diff --git a/resources/lib/playbackutils.py b/resources/lib/playbackutils.py
index 4da87f27..f4cdd8b9 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playbackutils.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playbackutils.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import downloadutils
 import playutils as putils
 import playlist
 import read_embyserver as embyserver
+import shutil
 from utils import Logging, window, settings, language as lang
 
 #################################################################################################
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ class PlaybackUtils():
         # Append external subtitles to stream
         playmethod = window('%s.playmethod' % embyitem)
         # Only for direct stream
-        if playmethod in ("DirectStream"):
+        if playmethod in ("DirectStream") and settings('enableExternalSubs') == "true":
             # Direct play automatically appends external
             subtitles = self.externalSubs(playurl)
             listitem.setSubtitles(subtitles)
diff --git a/resources/settings.xml b/resources/settings.xml
index 91006dbb..25e8b247 100644
--- a/resources/settings.xml
+++ b/resources/settings.xml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 		<setting type="sep" />
 	    <setting id="playFromStream" type="bool" label="30002" default="false" />
 	    <setting id="videoBitrate" type="enum" label="30160" values="664 Kbps SD|996 Kbps HD|1.3 Mbps HD|2.0 Mbps HD|3.2 Mbps HD|4.7 Mbps HD|6.2 Mbps HD|7.7 Mbps HD|9.2 Mbps HD|10.7 Mbps HD|12.2 Mbps HD|13.7 Mbps HD|15.2 Mbps HD|16.7 Mbps HD|18.2 Mbps HD|20.0 Mbps HD|40.0 Mbps HD|100.0 Mbps HD [default]|1000.0 Mbps HD" visible="true" default="17" subsetting="true" />
+	    <setting id="enableExternalSubs" type="bool" label="Enable external subs for direct stream" default="true" />
 	    <setting id="transcodeH265" type="enum" label="30522" default="0" values="Disabled|480p(and higher)|720p(and higher)|1080p" />
 	    <setting id="transcodeHi10P" type="bool" label="30537" default="false"/>	    
 	    <setting id="markPlayed" type="number" visible="false" default="90" />