diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.mn b/doc/Guidebook.mn
index f5adc8b6e..de4e6c01a 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.mn
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.mn
@@ -2859,6 +2859,8 @@ Boldface monsters and ``\fB--More--\fP'' (default off).  Persistent.
 .lp statushilites
 Enable coloring of status fields (default off).
 See ``Configuring Status Hilites'' for further information.
+.lp status_updates
+Allow updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen (default true).
 .lp suppress_alert
 This option may be set to a NetHack version level to suppress
 alert notification messages about feature changes for that
@@ -3707,6 +3709,10 @@ was interrupted.
 .lp whatis_coord:compass
 When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with coordinates
 relative to your character.
+.lp nostatus_updates
+Prevent updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen, if
+your screen-reader reads those lines. The same information can be
+seen via the #attributes command.
 .hn 2
 Global Configuration for System Administrators
 .pg
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.tex b/doc/Guidebook.tex
index 0f3c83504..7c2d3e6f1 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.tex
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.tex
@@ -3479,6 +3479,9 @@ Boldface monsters and ``{\tt --More--}'' (default off).  Persistent.
 Enable coloring of status fields (default off).
 See ``{\it Configuring Status Hilites\/}'' for further information.
 %.lp
+\item[\ib{status\verb+_+updates}]
+Allow updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen (default true).
+%.lp
 \item[\ib{suppress\verb+_+alert}]
 This option may be set to a NetHack version level to suppress
 alert notification messages about feature changes for that 
@@ -4509,6 +4512,11 @@ was interrupted.
 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+coord:compass}]
 When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with coordinates
 relative to your character.
+%.lp
+\item[\ib{nostatus\verb+_+updates}]
+Prevent updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen, if
+your screen-reader reads those lines. The same information can be
+seen via the #attributes command.
 \elist
 
 %.hn2
diff --git a/doc/fixes36.1 b/doc/fixes36.1
index 290a9d4ae..56916b68e 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.1
+++ b/doc/fixes36.1
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ some death by the-poison-was-deadly situations left stale non-zero HP shown
 when sitting at a trap spot: You sit down. You step on a level teleporter.
 	(likewise for polymorph trap, and similar issue for web)
 show all statusline information in #attributes
+add option status_updates to prevent bottom of screen status line updates
 
 
 Fixes to Post-3.6.0 Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/include/flag.h b/include/flag.h
index 4927cb632..612a14720 100644
--- a/include/flag.h
+++ b/include/flag.h
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ struct instance_flags {
     boolean echo;             /* 1 to echo characters */
     boolean use_menu_color;       /* use color in menus; only if wc_color */
     boolean use_status_hilites;   /* use color in status line */
+    boolean status_updates;   /* allow updates to bottom status lines */
     boolean use_background_glyph; /* use background glyph when appropriate */
     boolean hilite_pile;          /* mark piles of objects with a hilite */
     boolean autodescribe;     /* autodescribe mode in getpos() */
diff --git a/src/botl.c b/src/botl.c
index 8fc6ab521..f39086174 100644
--- a/src/botl.c
+++ b/src/botl.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ bot2()
 void
 bot()
 {
-    if (youmonst.data) {
+    if (youmonst.data && iflags.status_updates) {
         bot1();
         bot2();
     }
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ bot()
 
     if (!blinit)
         panic("bot before init.");
-    if (!youmonst.data) {
+    if (!youmonst.data || !iflags.status_updates) {
         context.botl = context.botlx = 0;
         update_all = FALSE;
         return;
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index 9b610f3d9..d49102ddc 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ static struct Bool_Opt {
 #else
     { "statushilites", &iflags.use_status_hilites, FALSE, DISP_IN_GAME },
 #endif
+    { "status_updates", &iflags.status_updates, TRUE, DISP_IN_GAME },
     { "tiled_map", &iflags.wc_tiled_map, PREFER_TILED, DISP_IN_GAME }, /*WC*/
     { "time", &flags.time, FALSE, SET_IN_GAME },
 #ifdef TIMED_DELAY