diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8127a5d6..e054dd7c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ Add to the `~/.bashrc`:
 
    # GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_UPSTREAM=1 # uncomment to show upstream tracking branch
    # GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_UNTRACKED_FILES=all # can be no, normal or all; determines counting of untracked files
+   
+   # GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT=0 # uncomment to avoid printing the number of changed files
 
    # GIT_PROMPT_STATUS_COMMAND=gitstatus_pre-1.7.10.sh # uncomment to support Git older than 1.7.10
 
diff --git a/gitprompt.sh b/gitprompt.sh
index 492cd936..23f7bc36 100755
--- a/gitprompt.sh
+++ b/gitprompt.sh
@@ -470,6 +470,12 @@ function updatePrompt() {
     export __GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_UNTRACKED_FILES=${GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_UNTRACKED_FILES}
   fi
 
+  if [ -z "${GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT}" ]; then
+    export __GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT=1
+  else
+    export __GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT=${GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT}
+  fi
+
   local GIT_INDEX_PRIVATE="$(createPrivateIndex)"
   #important to define GIT_INDEX_FILE as local: This way it only affects this function (and below) - even with the export afterwards
   local GIT_INDEX_FILE
@@ -513,7 +519,7 @@ function updatePrompt() {
         v="\$GIT_$1 $2"
       fi
       if eval "test $v" ; then
-        if [[ $# -lt 2 || "$3" != '-' ]]; then
+        if [[ $# -lt 2 || "$3" != '-' ]] && [[ "x$__GIT_PROMPT_SHOW_CHANGED_FILES_COUNT" == "x1" || "x$1" == "xREMOTE" ]]; then
           __add_status "\$GIT_PROMPT_$1\$GIT_$1\$ResetColor"
         else
           __add_status "\$GIT_PROMPT_$1\$ResetColor"