diff --git a/src/octoprint/server/api/settings.py b/src/octoprint/server/api/settings.py
index 7323548e..07195af0 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/server/api/settings.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/server/api/settings.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def getSettings():
 			"waitForStart": s.getBoolean(["feature", "waitForStartOnConnect"]),
 			"alwaysSendChecksum": s.getBoolean(["feature", "alwaysSendChecksum"]),
 			"sdSupport": s.getBoolean(["feature", "sdSupport"]),
+			"sdAlwaysAvailable": s.getBoolean(["feature", "sdAlwaysAvailable"]),
 			"swallowOkAfterResend": s.getBoolean(["feature", "swallowOkAfterResend"]),
 			"repetierTargetTemp": s.getBoolean(["feature", "repetierTargetTemp"])
 		},
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ def setSettings():
 			if "waitForStart" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "waitForStartOnConnect"], data["feature"]["waitForStart"])
 			if "alwaysSendChecksum" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "alwaysSendChecksum"], data["feature"]["alwaysSendChecksum"])
 			if "sdSupport" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "sdSupport"], data["feature"]["sdSupport"])
+			if "sdAlwaysAvailable" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "sdAlwaysAvailable"], data["feature"]["sdAlwaysAvailable"])
 			if "swallowOkAfterResend" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "swallowOkAfterResend"], data["feature"]["swallowOkAfterResend"])
 			if "repetierTargetTemp" in data["feature"].keys(): s.setBoolean(["feature", "repetierTargetTemp"], data["feature"]["repetierTargetTemp"])
 
diff --git a/src/octoprint/settings.py b/src/octoprint/settings.py
index e776a8d7..e116f652 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/settings.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/settings.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ default_settings = {
 		"waitForStartOnConnect": False,
 		"alwaysSendChecksum": False,
 		"sdSupport": True,
+		"sdAlwaysAvailable": False,
 		"swallowOkAfterResend": True,
 		"repetierTargetTemp": False
 	},
diff --git a/src/octoprint/static/js/app/viewmodels/settings.js b/src/octoprint/static/js/app/viewmodels/settings.js
index 12902e64..1647d2b8 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/static/js/app/viewmodels/settings.js
+++ b/src/octoprint/static/js/app/viewmodels/settings.js
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ function SettingsViewModel(loginStateViewModel, usersViewModel) {
     self.feature_waitForStart = ko.observable(undefined);
     self.feature_alwaysSendChecksum = ko.observable(undefined);
     self.feature_sdSupport = ko.observable(undefined);
+    self.feature_sdAlwaysAvailable = ko.observable(undefined);
     self.feature_swallowOkAfterResend = ko.observable(undefined);
     self.feature_repetierTargetTemp = ko.observable(undefined);
 
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ function SettingsViewModel(loginStateViewModel, usersViewModel) {
         self.feature_waitForStart(response.feature.waitForStart);
         self.feature_alwaysSendChecksum(response.feature.alwaysSendChecksum);
         self.feature_sdSupport(response.feature.sdSupport);
+        self.feature_sdAlwaysAvailable(response.feature.sdAlwaysAvailable);
         self.feature_swallowOkAfterResend(response.feature.swallowOkAfterResend);
         self.feature_repetierTargetTemp(response.feature.repetierTargetTemp);
 
@@ -273,6 +275,7 @@ function SettingsViewModel(loginStateViewModel, usersViewModel) {
                 "waitForStart": self.feature_waitForStart(),
                 "alwaysSendChecksum": self.feature_alwaysSendChecksum(),
                 "sdSupport": self.feature_sdSupport(),
+                "sdAlwaysAvailable": self.feature_sdAlwaysAvailable(),
                 "swallowOkAfterResend": self.feature_swallowOkAfterResend(),
                 "repetierTargetTemp": self.feature_repetierTargetTemp()
             },
diff --git a/src/octoprint/templates/settings.jinja2 b/src/octoprint/templates/settings.jinja2
index 28f647e7..91c900e2 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/templates/settings.jinja2
+++ b/src/octoprint/templates/settings.jinja2
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@
                                 </label>
                             </div>
                         </div>
+                        <div class="control-group">
+                            <div class="controls">
+                                <label class="checkbox">
+                                    <input type="checkbox" data-bind="checked: feature_sdAlwaysAvailable" id="settings-featureSdAlwaysAvailable"> Always assume SD card is present <span class="label">Repetier</span>
+                                </label>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
                         <div class="control-group">
                             <div class="controls">
                                 <label class="checkbox">
diff --git a/src/octoprint/util/comm.py b/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
index cc1ac339..c8760e7d 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
@@ -522,6 +522,10 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 		if not self.isOperational():
 			return
 		self.sendCommand("M21")
+		if settings().getBoolean(["feature", "sdAlwaysAvailable"]):
+			self._sdAvailable = True
+			self.refreshSdFiles()
+			self._callback.mcSdStateChange(self._sdAvailable)
 
 	def releaseSdCard(self):
 		if not self.isOperational() or (self.isBusy() and self.isSdFileSelected()):
@@ -699,7 +703,7 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 						# something went wrong, printer is reporting that we actually are not printing right now...
 						self._sdFilePos = 0
 						self._changeState(self.STATE_OPERATIONAL)
-				elif 'SD card ok' in line:
+				elif 'SD card ok' in line and not self._sdAvailable:
 					self._sdAvailable = True
 					self.refreshSdFiles()
 					self._callback.mcSdStateChange(self._sdAvailable)
@@ -827,6 +831,8 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 							self._changeState(self.STATE_OPERATIONAL)
 							if self._sdAvailable:
 								self.refreshSdFiles()
+							else:
+								self.initSdCard()
 							eventManager().fire(Events.CONNECTED, {"port": self._port, "baudrate": self._baudrate})
 					else:
 						self._testingBaudrate = False
@@ -839,7 +845,9 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 						startSeen = True
 					elif "ok" in line and startSeen:
 						self._changeState(self.STATE_OPERATIONAL)
-						if not self._sdAvailable:
+						if self._sdAvailable:
+							self.refreshSdFiles()
+						else:
 							self.initSdCard()
 						eventManager().fire(Events.CONNECTED, {"port": self._port, "baudrate": self._baudrate})
 					elif time.time() > timeout: