--- a/sc2src/sc2mpd.cpp
+++ b/sc2src/sc2mpd.cpp
@@ -580,6 +580,11 @@
                             "http stream");
     parser.AddOption(&optionDevice);
 
+    OptionBool optionWatcher("-W", "--watcher",
+                            "[watcher] Start a watcher thread"
+                            "(needs --direct-alsa)");
+    parser.AddOption(&optionWatcher);
+
 #ifdef WITH_WAVSC2
     OptionString optionWav("-w", "--wav somefile.wav", Brn(""), 
                            "Test audio with wav file instead of sender");
@@ -679,7 +684,7 @@
             }
         }
     } else {
-        if (optionDevice.Value()) {
+        if (optionDevice.Value() && optionWatcher.Value()) {
             startWatcher(config);
         }
         receiver->Play(uri);