diff --git a/osx_bundle/misc/bundle/launcher.sh b/osx_bundle/misc/bundle/launcher.sh
index b3724bae43..cc7b733cd2 100755
--- a/osx_bundle/misc/bundle/launcher.sh
+++ b/osx_bundle/misc/bundle/launcher.sh
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ fi
 export PYTHON="$bundle_contents/MacOS/python"
 export PYTHONHOME="$bundle_res"
 
-# temporary disable multimedia keys
-export QUODLIBET_NO_MMKEYS=yes
 # temporary disable tooltips
 export QUODLIBET_NO_HINTS=yes
 
diff --git a/quodlibet/docs/development/faq.rst b/quodlibet/docs/development/faq.rst
index dbadb1a32d..647b0cae86 100644
--- a/quodlibet/docs/development/faq.rst
+++ b/quodlibet/docs/development/faq.rst
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ QUODLIBET_DEBUG
 QUODLIBET_NO_TRANS
     When in the environment disables translations
 
-QUODLIBET_NO_MMKEYS
-    When in the environment disables multimedia keys support
-
 QUODLIBET_BACKEND
     Can be set to the audio backend, overriding the value present in the main
     config file. Useful for quickly testing a different audio backend.
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet.py
index 85b0bf546f..9348eabd69 100755
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet.py
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ def show_backend_error(window):
     except ImportError:
         DBusHandler = lambda player, library: None
 
-    mmkeys_handler = MMKeysHandler(app.name, window, player)
-    if "QUODLIBET_NO_MMKEYS" not in os.environ:
-        mmkeys_handler.start()
+    mmkeys_handler = MMKeysHandler(app)
+    mmkeys_handler.start()
+
     current_path = os.path.join(quodlibet.get_user_dir(), "current")
     fsiface = FSInterface(current_path, player)
     remote = Remote(app, cmd_registry)
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/config.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/config.py
index d53cadc549..312e1eafd6 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/config.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/config.py
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@
         # If set to "true" allow directly deleting files, even on systems that
         # support sending them to the trash.
         "bypass_trash": "false",
+
+        # our implementation is buggy and disabled by default
+        "osx_mmkeys": "false",
     },
     "rename": {
         "spaces": "false",
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/advanced_preferences.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/advanced_preferences.py
index f1c1806985..085c57c6fb 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/advanced_preferences.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/advanced_preferences.py
@@ -135,6 +135,12 @@ def changed(entry, name, section="settings"):
                 ("Size of the album cover images in the album list browser "
                  "(restart required)")))
 
+        rows.append(
+            boolean_config(
+                "settings", "osx_mmkeys",
+                "OS X Multimedia Keys:",
+                "Enable experimental mmkeys support (restart required)"))
+
         for (row, (label, entry, button)) in enumerate(rows):
             label.set_alignment(1.0, 0.5)
             table.attach(label, 0, 1, row, row + 1,
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/mmkeys/__init__.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/mmkeys/__init__.py
index 15524f297e..18550ff0b7 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/mmkeys/__init__.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/mmkeys/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 as
 # published by the Free Software Foundation
 
+from quodlibet import config
+
 from ._base import MMKeysAction, MMKeysImportError
 
 
@@ -31,12 +33,13 @@ def iter_backends():
     else:
         yield PyHookBackend
 
-    try:
-        from .osx import OSXBackend
-    except MMKeysImportError:
-        pass
-    else:
-        yield OSXBackend
+    if config.getboolean("settings", "osx_mmkeys"):
+        try:
+            from .osx import OSXBackend
+        except MMKeysImportError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            yield OSXBackend
 
 
 def find_active_backend():
@@ -52,11 +55,11 @@ class MMKeysHandler(object):
     events to actions on the player backend.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, app_name, window, player):
+    def __init__(self, app):
         self._backend = None
-        self._window = window
-        self._player = player
-        self._app_name = app_name
+        self._window = app.window
+        self._player = app.player
+        self._app_name = app.name
 
     def start(self):
         kind = find_active_backend()
diff --git a/quodlibet/tests/test_mmkeys.py b/quodlibet/tests/test_mmkeys.py
index c55634eb19..36c50efdde 100644
--- a/quodlibet/tests/test_mmkeys.py
+++ b/quodlibet/tests/test_mmkeys.py
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-from tests import TestCase
+from tests import TestCase, init_fake_app, destroy_fake_app
 
-from gi.repository import Gtk
-
-from quodlibet.player.nullbe import NullPlayer
+from quodlibet import app
 from quodlibet.mmkeys import MMKeysHandler, iter_backends
 
 
 class TMmKeys(TestCase):
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        init_fake_app()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        destroy_fake_app()
+
     def test_handler(self):
-        win = Gtk.Window()
-        handler = MMKeysHandler("Foo", win, NullPlayer())
+        handler = MMKeysHandler(app)
         handler.quit()
 
     def test_backends(self):