diff --git a/extensions/git/package.json b/extensions/git/package.json
index a6aefcf6679..c9b7a5b2c17 100644
--- a/extensions/git/package.json
+++ b/extensions/git/package.json
@@ -364,6 +364,11 @@
     "configuration": {
       "title": "Git",
       "properties": {
+        "git.autorefresh": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "description": "%config.autorefresh%",
+          "default": true
+        },
         "git.autofetch": {
           "type": "boolean",
           "description": "%config.autofetch%",
diff --git a/extensions/git/package.nls.json b/extensions/git/package.nls.json
index 13290309fe8..bb240bc50d8 100644
--- a/extensions/git/package.nls.json
+++ b/extensions/git/package.nls.json
@@ -23,5 +23,6 @@
 	"command.sync": "Sync",
 	"command.publish": "Publish",
 	"command.showOutput": "Show Git Output",
+	"config.autorefresh": "Whether auto refreshing is enabled.",
 	"config.autofetch": "Whether auto fetching is enabled."
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/extensions/git/src/model.ts b/extensions/git/src/model.ts
index e7b3e3e2398..9631eeed23a 100644
--- a/extensions/git/src/model.ts
+++ b/extensions/git/src/model.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-import { Uri, EventEmitter, Event, SCMResource, SCMResourceDecorations, SCMResourceGroup, Disposable, window } from 'vscode';
+import { Uri, EventEmitter, Event, SCMResource, SCMResourceDecorations, SCMResourceGroup, Disposable, window, workspace } from 'vscode';
 import { Repository, IRef, IBranch, IRemote, IPushOptions } from './git';
 import { anyEvent, eventToPromise, filterEvent, mapEvent } from './util';
 import { memoize, throttle, debounce } from './decorators';
@@ -449,6 +449,13 @@ export class Model {
 	}
 
 	private onFSChange(uri: Uri): void {
+		const config = workspace.getConfiguration('git');
+		const autorefresh = config.get<boolean>('autorefresh');
+
+		if (!autorefresh) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if (!this.operations.isIdle()) {
 			return;
 		}