diff --git a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
index a7dabeb56373ddba317c3ffefd820265e57f5cbf..e9b4d4d96db64547d65ca87455cf6c9bc6d1f7e1 100755
--- a/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
+++ b/indra/newview/app_settings/settings.xml
@@ -1893,6 +1893,17 @@
       <key>Value</key>
       <integer>1</integer>
     </map>
+    <key>DebugHideEmptySystemFolders</key>
+    <map>
+      <key>Comment</key>
+      <string>Hide empty system folders when on</string>
+      <key>Persist</key>
+      <integer>1</integer>
+      <key>Type</key>
+      <string>Boolean</string>
+      <key>Value</key>
+      <integer>0</integer>
+    </map>
     <key>DebugInventoryFilters</key>
     <map>
       <key>Comment</key>
diff --git a/indra/newview/llviewerfoldertype.cpp b/indra/newview/llviewerfoldertype.cpp
index a179b61cffc78c7c61ade5cd39935c2ffa079588..c39df7efce3019dd646b644bb8725b35e8a8067a 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llviewerfoldertype.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llviewerfoldertype.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "lldictionary.h"
 #include "llmemory.h"
 #include "llvisualparam.h"
+#include "llviewercontrol.h"
 
 static const std::string empty_string;
 
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ BOOL LLViewerFolderType::lookupIsQuietType(LLFolderType::EType folder_type)
 bool LLViewerFolderType::lookupIsHiddenIfEmpty(LLFolderType::EType folder_type)
 {
 	const ViewerFolderEntry *entry = LLViewerFolderDictionary::getInstance()->lookup(folder_type);
-	if (entry)
+	if (gSavedSettings.getBOOL("DebugHideEmptySystemFolders") && entry)
 	{
 		return entry->mHideIfEmpty;
 	}