diff --git a/alerts.c b/alerts.c
index 9c9bdf3b..f047acae 100644
--- a/alerts.c
+++ b/alerts.c
@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@ alerts_check_session(struct session *s)
 static int
 alerts_enabled(struct window *w, int flags)
 {
-	if (flags & WINDOW_BELL)
-		return (1);
+	if (flags & WINDOW_BELL) {
+		if (options_get_number(w->options, "monitor-bell"))
+			return (1);
+	}
 	if (flags & WINDOW_ACTIVITY) {
 		if (options_get_number(w->options, "monitor-activity"))
 			return (1);
@@ -164,6 +166,8 @@ alerts_check_bell(struct window *w)
 
 	if (~w->flags & WINDOW_BELL)
 		return (0);
+	if (!options_get_number(w->options, "monitor-bell"))
+		return (0);
 
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(wl, &w->winlinks, wentry)
 		wl->session->flags &= ~SESSION_ALERTED;
diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index ded8438d..f5e973e5 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -654,6 +654,12 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	  .default_num = 0
 	},
 
+	{ .name = "monitor-bell",
+	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_FLAG,
+	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
+	  .default_num = 1
+	},
+
 	{ .name = "monitor-silence",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_NUMBER,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 3fa1ad8c..c9d1d640 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -2567,7 +2567,9 @@ The default is zero.
 .It Xo Ic bell-action
 .Op Ic any | none | current | other
 .Xc
-Set action on window bell.
+Set action on a bell in a window when
+.Ic monitor-bell
+is on.
 The values are the same as those for
 .Ic activity-action .
 .It Ic default-command Ar shell-command
@@ -2928,7 +2930,9 @@ If set to both, a bell and a message are produced.
 .It Xo Ic visual-bell
 .Op Ic on | off | both
 .Xc
-If on, a message is shown on a bell instead of it being passed through to the
+If on, a message is shown on a bell in a window for which the
+.Ic monitor-bell
+window option is enabled instead of it being passed through to the
 terminal (which normally makes a sound).
 If set to both, a bell and a message are produced.
 Also see the
@@ -3086,6 +3090,12 @@ option.
 Monitor for activity in the window.
 Windows with activity are highlighted in the status line.
 .Pp
+.It Xo Ic monitor-bell
+.Op Ic on | off
+.Xc
+Monitor for a bell in the window.
+Windows with a bell are highlighted in the status line.
+.Pp
 .It Xo Ic monitor-silence
 .Op Ic interval
 .Xc
@@ -3319,6 +3329,8 @@ See
 .Ic monitor-activity .
 .It alert-bell
 Run when a window has received a bell.
+See
+.Ic monitor-bell .
 .It alert-silence
 Run when a window has been silent.
 See
@@ -3851,8 +3863,8 @@ The flag is one of the following symbols appended to the window name:
 .It Sy "Symbol" Ta Sy "Meaning"
 .It Li "*" Ta "Denotes the current window."
 .It Li "-" Ta "Marks the last window (previously selected)."
-.It Li "#" Ta "Window is monitored and activity has been detected."
-.It Li "\&!" Ta "A bell has occurred in the window."
+.It Li "#" Ta "Window activity is monitored and activity has been detected."
+.It Li "\&!" Ta "Window bells are monitored and a bell has occurred in the window."
 .It Li "~" Ta "The window has been silent for the monitor-silence interval."
 .It Li "M" Ta "The window contains the marked pane."
 .It Li "Z" Ta "The window's active pane is zoomed."