diff --git a/aleksis/core/preferences.py b/aleksis/core/preferences.py
index 4e1bd8a40744e8374a3c3df041b2832da3f7275d..5adc20e5a4ff1e6884d15f0f8390ff3f27129e22 100644
--- a/aleksis/core/preferences.py
+++ b/aleksis/core/preferences.py
@@ -386,3 +386,13 @@ class PDFFileExpirationDuration(IntegerPreference):
     default = 3
     verbose_name = _("PDF file expiration duration")
     help_text = _("in minutes")
+
+
+@person_preferences_registry.register
+class AutoUpdatingDashboard(BooleanPreference):
+    """User preference for automatically updating the dashboard."""
+
+    section = general
+    name = "automatically_update_dashboard"
+    default = True
+    verbose_name = _("Automatically update the dashboard and its widgets")
diff --git a/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html b/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
index 6bbbab8ecfbe2768d12eb139fae110ac5cf62371..6c6bfdd9e5c3858b3367d375c19906625b18cd45 100644
--- a/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
+++ b/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
@@ -110,5 +110,7 @@
     </div>
   {% endif %}
 
-  <script type="text/javascript" src="{% static "js/include_ajax_live.js" %}"></script>
+  {% if user.person.preferences.general__automatically_update_dashboard %}
+    <script type="text/javascript" src="{% static "js/include_ajax_live.js" %}"></script>
+  {% endif %}
 {% endblock %}