diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 879444d5..9bed2286 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.Flags().Bool("enabletranscodingconfig", viper.GetBool("enabletranscodingconfig"), "enables transcoding configuration in the UI")
 	rootCmd.Flags().String("transcodingcachesize", viper.GetString("transcodingcachesize"), "size of transcoding cache")
 	rootCmd.Flags().String("imagecachesize", viper.GetString("imagecachesize"), "size of image (art work) cache. set to 0 to disable cache")
+	rootCmd.Flags().Bool("autoimportplaylists", viper.GetBool("autoimportplaylists"), "enable/disable .m3u playlist auto-import`")
 
 	_ = viper.BindPFlag("address", rootCmd.Flags().Lookup("address"))
 	_ = viper.BindPFlag("port", rootCmd.Flags().Lookup("port"))
diff --git a/conf/configuration.go b/conf/configuration.go
index ea0c85f4..0e3a9b4a 100644
--- a/conf/configuration.go
+++ b/conf/configuration.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type configOptions struct {
 	EnableTranscodingConfig bool
 	TranscodingCacheSize    string
 	ImageCacheSize          string
+	AutoImportPlaylists     bool
 
 	IgnoredArticles  string
 	IndexGroups      string
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ func init() {
 	viper.SetDefault("enabletranscodingconfig", false)
 	viper.SetDefault("transcodingcachesize", "100MB")
 	viper.SetDefault("imagecachesize", "100MB")
+	viper.SetDefault("autoimportplaylists", true)
 
 	// Config options only valid for file/env configuration
 	viper.SetDefault("ignoredarticles", "The El La Los Las Le Les Os As O A")
diff --git a/scanner/tag_scanner.go b/scanner/tag_scanner.go
index 7372f4ca..ddbd91ef 100644
--- a/scanner/tag_scanner.go
+++ b/scanner/tag_scanner.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/deluan/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/deluan/navidrome/log"
 	"github.com/deluan/navidrome/model"
 	"github.com/deluan/navidrome/model/request"
@@ -104,19 +105,23 @@ func (s *TagScanner) Scan(ctx context.Context, lastModifiedSince time.Time) erro
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Now that all mediafiles are imported/updated, search for and import playlists
-	u, _ := request.UserFrom(ctx)
 	plsCount := 0
-	for _, dir := range changedDirs {
-		info := allFSDirs[dir]
-		if info.hasPlaylist {
-			if !u.IsAdmin {
-				log.Warn("Playlists will not be imported, as there are no admin users yet, "+
-					"Please create an admin user first, and then update the playlists for them to be imported", "dir", dir)
-			} else {
-				plsCount = s.plsSync.processPlaylists(ctx, dir)
+	if conf.Server.AutoImportPlaylists {
+		// Now that all mediafiles are imported/updated, search for and import playlists
+		u, _ := request.UserFrom(ctx)
+		for _, dir := range changedDirs {
+			info := allFSDirs[dir]
+			if info.hasPlaylist {
+				if !u.IsAdmin {
+					log.Warn("Playlists will not be imported, as there are no admin users yet, "+
+						"Please create an admin user first, and then update the playlists for them to be imported", "dir", dir)
+				} else {
+					plsCount = s.plsSync.processPlaylists(ctx, dir)
+				}
 			}
 		}
+	} else {
+		log.Debug("Playlist auto-import is disabled")
 	}
 
 	err = s.ds.GC(log.NewContext(ctx))