diff --git a/src/core/bell.c b/src/core/bell.c
index 07abc12d7..dbb218831 100644
--- a/src/core/bell.c
+++ b/src/core/bell.c
@@ -283,9 +283,6 @@ bell_visual_notify (MetaDisplay *display,
     case G_DESKTOP_VISUAL_BELL_FRAME_FLASH:
       bell_flash_frame (display, xkb_ev); /* does nothing yet */
       break;
-    case G_DESKTOP_VISUAL_BELL_NONE:
-      /* do nothing */
-      break;
     }
 }
 
@@ -293,8 +290,9 @@ void
 meta_bell_notify (MetaDisplay *display, 
 		  XkbAnyEvent *xkb_ev)
 {
-  /* flash something if appropriate */
-  bell_visual_notify (display, xkb_ev);
+  /* flash something */
+  if (meta_prefs_get_visual_bell ())
+    bell_visual_notify (display, xkb_ev);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBCANBERRA
   if (meta_prefs_bell_is_audible ())
diff --git a/src/core/prefs.c b/src/core/prefs.c
index 8669df5d1..fd76102da 100644
--- a/src/core/prefs.c
+++ b/src/core/prefs.c
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ static gboolean application_based = FALSE;
 static gboolean disable_workarounds = FALSE;
 static gboolean auto_raise = FALSE;
 static gboolean auto_raise_delay = 500;
+static gboolean bell_is_visible = FALSE;
 static gboolean bell_is_audible = TRUE;
 static gboolean gnome_accessibility = FALSE;
 static gboolean gnome_animations = TRUE;
@@ -302,6 +303,13 @@ static MetaBoolPreference preferences_bool[] =
       },
       &auto_raise,
     },
+    {
+      { "visual-bell",
+        SCHEMA_GENERAL,
+        META_PREF_VISUAL_BELL,
+      },
+      &bell_is_visible, /* FIXME: change the name: it's confusing */
+    },
     {
       { "audible-bell",
         SCHEMA_GENERAL,
@@ -1912,6 +1920,12 @@ meta_prefs_get_button_layout (MetaButtonLayout *button_layout_p)
   *button_layout_p = button_layout;
 }
 
+gboolean
+meta_prefs_get_visual_bell (void)
+{
+  return bell_is_visible;
+}
+
 gboolean
 meta_prefs_bell_is_audible (void)
 {
diff --git a/src/meta/prefs.h b/src/meta/prefs.h
index 099aef7a0..bc62a8250 100644
--- a/src/meta/prefs.h
+++ b/src/meta/prefs.h
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ void meta_prefs_get_window_binding (const char          *name,
 
 void meta_prefs_get_overlay_binding (MetaKeyCombo *combo);
 
+gboolean           meta_prefs_get_visible_bell     (void);
 gboolean           meta_prefs_bell_is_audible      (void);
 GDesktopVisualBellType meta_prefs_get_visual_bell_type (void);