diff --git a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.admin.inc b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.admin.inc
index 4feadce..1da6b4b 100644
--- a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.admin.inc
+++ b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.admin.inc
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@ function user_relationships_ui_settings() {
       'is_numeric' => array('msg' => t('The relationships per page setting is not an integer'))
     )))
   );
+  
+  // this disables the notification messages on the top of the page 
+  $form['general']['user_relationships_notifications_disabled'] = array(
+    '#type'           => 'checkbox',
+    '#title'          => t('Disable notifications'),
+    '#description'    => t('Disable notifications about pending relationship requests on top of the page when the user logins or see its profile.'),
+    '#default_value'  => variable_get('user_relationships_notifications_disabled', FALSE)
+  );
+  
   if (module_exists('privatemsg')) {
       $form['privatemsg'] = array(
         '#type'   => 'fieldset',
diff --git a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.install b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.install
index 66a8718..f57ed68 100644
--- a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.install
+++ b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.install
@@ -25,4 +25,5 @@ function user_relationships_ui_uninstall() {
   variable_del('user_relationships_allow_auto_approve');
   variable_del('user_relationships_enable_author_pane');
   variable_del('user_relationships_api_author_pane_rtids');
+  variable_del('user_relationships_notifications_disabled');
 }
diff --git a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.module b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.module
index bfaba55..60cbe55 100644
--- a/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.module
+++ b/user_relationships_ui/user_relationships_ui.module
@@ -158,6 +158,10 @@ function _user_relationships_ui_set_notifications(&$account) {
   if ($account->uid != $user->uid) {
     return;
   }
+  
+  if (variable_get('user_relationships_notifications_disabled', FALSE)) {
+    return;
+  }
 
   $notifications = drupal_get_messages('status', FALSE);
   $notifications = isset($notifications['status']) ? $notifications['status'] : array();