diff --git a/lib/mail_catcher.rb b/lib/mail_catcher.rb
index 962a7d94..00782d14 100644
--- a/lib/mail_catcher.rb
+++ b/lib/mail_catcher.rb
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ def log_exception(message, context, exception)
     :daemon => !windows?,
     :browse => false,
     :quit => true,
+    :clear_messages => true,
   }
 
   def options
@@ -103,6 +104,10 @@ def quittable?
     options[:quit]
   end
 
+  def clear_messages_allowed?
+    options[:clear_messages]
+  end
+
   def parse! arguments=ARGV, defaults=@defaults
     @@defaults.dup.tap do |options|
       OptionParser.new do |parser|
@@ -146,6 +151,10 @@ def parse! arguments=ARGV, defaults=@defaults
           options[:quit] = false
         end
 
+        parser.on("--no-clear-messages", "Don't allow clearning messages") do
+          options[:clear_messages] = false
+        end
+
         if mac?
           parser.on("--[no-]growl") do |growl|
             puts "Growl is no longer supported"
diff --git a/lib/mail_catcher/web/application.rb b/lib/mail_catcher/web/application.rb
index 3a2246ff..601e411d 100644
--- a/lib/mail_catcher/web/application.rb
+++ b/lib/mail_catcher/web/application.rb
@@ -83,8 +83,12 @@ def asset_path(filename)
       end
 
       delete "/messages" do
-        Mail.delete!
-        status 204
+        if MailCatcher.clear_messages_allowed?
+          Mail.delete!
+          status 204
+        else
+          status 403
+        end
       end
 
       get "/messages/:id.json" do
@@ -162,12 +166,16 @@ def asset_path(filename)
       end
 
       delete "/messages/:id" do
-        id = params[:id].to_i
-        if Mail.message(id)
-          Mail.delete_message!(id)
-          status 204
+        if MailCatcher.clear_messages_allowed?
+          id = params[:id].to_i
+          if Mail.message(id)
+            Mail.delete_message!(id)
+            status 204
+          else
+            not_found
+          end
         else
-          not_found
+            status 403
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/views/index.erb b/views/index.erb
index 0ffadf74..847e87fa 100644
--- a/views/index.erb
+++ b/views/index.erb
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@
     <nav class="app">
       <ul>
         <li class="search"><input type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search messages..." incremental="true" /></li>
-        <li class="clear"><a href="#" title="Clear all messages">Clear</a></li>
+        <% if MailCatcher.clear_messages_allowed? %>
+          <li class="clear"><a href="#" title="Clear all messages">Clear</a></li>
+        <% end %>
         <% if MailCatcher.quittable? %>
           <li class="quit"><a href="#" title="Quit MailCatcher">Quit</a></li>
         <% end %>