diff --git a/fixtures/typings-test/typings-test.ts b/fixtures/typings-test/typings-test.ts
index 4718110d..6761dcd5 100644
--- a/fixtures/typings-test/typings-test.ts
+++ b/fixtures/typings-test/typings-test.ts
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ namespace methods_core {
       t.setOption('cursorBlink', true);
       t.setOption('debug', true);
       t.setOption('disableStdin', true);
+      t.setOption('enableBold', true);
       t.setOption('fontWeight', 'normal');
       t.setOption('fontWeight', 'bold');
       t.setOption('fontWeightBold', 'normal');
diff --git a/src/Interfaces.ts b/src/Interfaces.ts
index 6d1c36d3..5237fa5b 100644
--- a/src/Interfaces.ts
+++ b/src/Interfaces.ts
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ export interface ITerminalOptions {
   cursorStyle?: string;
   debug?: boolean;
   disableStdin?: boolean;
+  enableBold?: boolean;
   fontSize?: number;
   fontFamily?: string;
   fontWeight?: FontWeight;
diff --git a/src/Terminal.ts b/src/Terminal.ts
index 044f5351..70b7deaa 100644
--- a/src/Terminal.ts
+++ b/src/Terminal.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ const DEFAULT_OPTIONS: ITerminalOptions = {
   cursorStyle: 'block',
   bellSound: BELL_SOUND,
   bellStyle: 'none',
+  enableBold: true,
   fontFamily: 'courier-new, courier, monospace',
   fontSize: 15,
   fontWeight: 'normal',
@@ -424,11 +425,12 @@ export class Terminal extends EventEmitter implements ITerminal, IInputHandlingT
         this.renderer.clear();
         this.charMeasure.measure(this.options);
         break;
+      case 'enableBold':
       case 'letterSpacing':
       case 'lineHeight':
       case 'fontWeight':
       case 'fontWeightBold':
-        const didCharSizeChange = (key === 'fontWeight' || key === 'fontWeightBold');
+        const didCharSizeChange = (key === 'fontWeight' || key === 'fontWeightBold' || key === 'enableBold');
 
         // When the font changes the size of the cells may change which requires a renderer clear
         this.renderer.clear();
diff --git a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
index 977cbf52..bf952d06 100644
--- a/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/BaseRenderLayer.ts
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
       colorIndex = fg + 2;
     } else {
       // If default color and bold
-      if (bold) {
+      if (bold && terminal.options.enableBold) {
         colorIndex = 1;
       }
     }
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
         this._ctx.globalAlpha = DIM_OPACITY;
       }
 
+      // Draw the non-bold version of the same color if bold is not enabled
+      if (bold && !terminal.options.enableBold) {
+        // Ignore default color as it's not touched above
+        if (colorIndex > 1) {
+          colorIndex -= 8;
+        }
+      }
 
       this._ctx.drawImage(this._charAtlas,
           code * charAtlasCellWidth,
@@ -262,7 +269,7 @@ export abstract class BaseRenderLayer implements IRenderLayer {
           charAtlasCellWidth,
           this._scaledCharHeight);
     } else {
-      this._drawUncachedChar(terminal, char, width, fg, x, y, bold, dim);
+      this._drawUncachedChar(terminal, char, width, fg, x, y, bold && terminal.options.enableBold, dim);
     }
     // This draws the atlas (for debugging purposes)
     // this._ctx.clearRect(0, 0, this._canvas.width, this._canvas.height);
diff --git a/typings/xterm.d.ts b/typings/xterm.d.ts
index 7c8612cf..7f19a502 100644
--- a/typings/xterm.d.ts
+++ b/typings/xterm.d.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
  */
 
 declare module 'xterm' {
+  /**
+   * A string representing text font weight.
+   */
+  export type FontWeight = 'normal' | 'bold' | 'bolder' | 'lighter' | '100' | '200' | '300' | '400' | '500' | '600' | '700' | '800' | '900';
+
   /**
    * An object containing start up options for the terminal.
    */
@@ -57,6 +62,16 @@ declare module 'xterm' {
      */
     fontFamily?: string;
 
+    /**
+     * The font weight used to render non-bold text.
+     */
+    fontWeight?: FontWeight;
+
+    /**
+     * The font weight used to render bold text.
+     */
+    fontWeightBold?: FontWeight;
+
     /**
      * The spacing in whole pixels between characters..
      */