diff --git a/src/core/place.c b/src/core/place.c
index 6c0efc128..fea6beaed 100644
--- a/src/core/place.c
+++ b/src/core/place.c
@@ -318,6 +318,19 @@ window_overlaps_focus_window (MetaWindow *window)
                                    &overlap);
 }
 
+static gboolean
+window_place_centered (MetaWindow *window)
+{
+  MetaWindowType type;
+
+  type = window->type;
+
+  return (type == META_WINDOW_DIALOG ||
+    type == META_WINDOW_MODAL_DIALOG ||
+    type == META_WINDOW_SPLASHSCREEN ||
+    (type == META_WINDOW_NORMAL && meta_prefs_get_center_new_windows ()));
+}
+
 static void
 avoid_being_obscured_as_second_modal_dialog (MetaWindow *window,
                                              int        *x,
@@ -737,9 +750,7 @@ meta_window_place (MetaWindow        *window,
    * on the sides of the parent window or something.
    */
   
-  if (window->type == META_WINDOW_DIALOG ||
-      window->type == META_WINDOW_MODAL_DIALOG ||
-      window->type == META_WINDOW_SPLASHSCREEN)
+  if (window_place_centered (window))
     {
       /* Center on current monitor */
       int w, h;
diff --git a/src/core/prefs.c b/src/core/prefs.c
index 716967a67..c3bf10520 100644
--- a/src/core/prefs.c
+++ b/src/core/prefs.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ static MetaKeyCombo overlay_key_combo = { 0, 0, 0 };
 static GDesktopFocusMode focus_mode = G_DESKTOP_FOCUS_MODE_CLICK;
 static GDesktopFocusNewWindows focus_new_windows = G_DESKTOP_FOCUS_NEW_WINDOWS_SMART;
 static gboolean raise_on_click = TRUE;
+static gboolean center_new_windows = FALSE;
 static gboolean attach_modal_dialogs = FALSE;
 static char* current_theme = NULL;
 static int num_workspaces = 4;
@@ -272,6 +273,13 @@ static MetaBoolPreference preferences_bool[] =
       },
       &attach_modal_dialogs,
     },
+    {
+      { "center-new-windows",
+        SCHEMA_MUTTER,
+        META_PREF_CENTER_NEW_WINDOWS,
+      },
+      &center_new_windows,
+    },
     {
       { "raise-on-click",
         SCHEMA_GENERAL,
@@ -1214,6 +1222,12 @@ meta_prefs_get_focus_new_windows (void)
   return focus_new_windows;
 }
 
+gboolean
+meta_prefs_get_center_new_windows (void)
+{
+  return center_new_windows;
+}
+
 gboolean
 meta_prefs_get_attach_modal_dialogs (void)
 {
@@ -1729,6 +1743,9 @@ meta_preference_to_string (MetaPreference pref)
     case META_PREF_FOCUS_NEW_WINDOWS:
       return "FOCUS_NEW_WINDOWS";
 
+    case META_PREF_CENTER_NEW_WINDOWS:
+      return "CENTER_NEW_WINDOWS";
+
     case META_PREF_ATTACH_MODAL_DIALOGS:
       return "ATTACH_MODAL_DIALOGS";
 
diff --git a/src/meta/prefs.h b/src/meta/prefs.h
index de2ab1793..b43a23923 100644
--- a/src/meta/prefs.h
+++ b/src/meta/prefs.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
  * @META_PREF_WORKSPACES_ONLY_ON_PRIMARY: workspaces only on primary
  * @META_PREF_DRAGGABLE_BORDER_WIDTH: draggable border width
  * @META_PREF_AUTO_MAXIMIZE: auto-maximize
+ * @META_PREF_CENTER_NEW_WINDOWS: center new windows
  */
 
 /* Keep in sync with GSettings schemas! */
@@ -100,7 +101,8 @@ typedef enum
   META_PREF_FORCE_FULLSCREEN,
   META_PREF_WORKSPACES_ONLY_ON_PRIMARY,
   META_PREF_DRAGGABLE_BORDER_WIDTH,
-  META_PREF_AUTO_MAXIMIZE
+  META_PREF_AUTO_MAXIMIZE,
+  META_PREF_CENTER_NEW_WINDOWS
 } MetaPreference;
 
 typedef void (* MetaPrefsChangedFunc) (MetaPreference pref,
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ gboolean                    meta_prefs_get_gnome_accessibility (void);
 gboolean                    meta_prefs_get_gnome_animations   (void);
 gboolean                    meta_prefs_get_edge_tiling        (void);
 gboolean                    meta_prefs_get_auto_maximize      (void);
+gboolean                    meta_prefs_get_center_new_windows (void);
 
 void                        meta_prefs_get_button_layout (MetaButtonLayout *button_layout);
 
diff --git a/src/org.gnome.mutter.gschema.xml.in b/src/org.gnome.mutter.gschema.xml.in
index 9d83cf3aa..cffeeb8c5 100644
--- a/src/org.gnome.mutter.gschema.xml.in
+++ b/src/org.gnome.mutter.gschema.xml.in
@@ -93,6 +93,15 @@
       </_description>
     </key>
 
+    <key name="center-new-windows" type="b">
+      <default>false</default>
+      <_summary>Place new windows in the center</_summary>
+      <_description>
+        When true, the new windows will always be put in the center of the
+        active screen of the monitor.
+      </_description>
+    </key>
+
     <child name="keybindings" schema="org.gnome.mutter.keybindings"/>
 
   </schema>