diff --git a/src/_WindowBase.h b/src/_WindowBase.h
index e6e1796fc..d59a67a7e 100644
--- a/src/_WindowBase.h
+++ b/src/_WindowBase.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ int Display_ScaleY(int y) { return (int)(y * DisplayInfo.ScaleY); }
 
 static int cursorPrevX, cursorPrevY;
 static cc_bool cursorVisible = true;
+static cc_bool showDialogs   = true;
 /* Gets the position of the cursor in screen or window coordinates */
 static void Cursor_GetRawPos(int* x, int* y);
 /* Sets whether the cursor is visible when over this window */
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ static void ShowDialogCore(const char* title, const char* msg);
 void Window_ShowDialog(const char* title, const char* msg) {
 	/* Ensure cursor is usable while showing message box */
 	cc_bool rawMode = Input_RawMode;
+	if (!showDialogs) return;
 
 	if (rawMode) Window_DisableRawMouse();
 	ShowDialogCore(title, msg);
diff --git a/src/interop_cocoa.m b/src/interop_cocoa.m
index e40456874..3c43653e3 100644
--- a/src/interop_cocoa.m
+++ b/src/interop_cocoa.m
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ static void LogUnhandledNSErrors(NSException* ex) {
 static NSAutoreleasePool* pool;
 void Window_Init(void) {
 	NSSetUncaughtExceptionHandler(LogUnhandledNSErrors);
+	showDialogs = Options_GetBool("show-dialogs", true);
 
 	// https://www.cocoawithlove.com/2009/01/demystifying-nsapplication-by.html
 	pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
@@ -546,13 +547,8 @@ void ShowDialogCore(const char* title, const char* msg) {
 	titleCF = CFStringCreateWithCString(NULL, title, kCFStringEncodingASCII);
 	msgCF   = CFStringCreateWithCString(NULL, msg,   kCFStringEncodingASCII);
 	
-	// backwards compatible @try @catch
-	NS_DURING {
-		alert = [NSAlert alloc];
-		alert = [alert init];
-	} NS_HANDLER {
-		LogUnhandledNSErrors(localException);
-	} NS_ENDHANDLER
+	alert = [NSAlert alloc];
+	alert = [alert init];
 	
 	[alert setMessageText: titleCF];
 	[alert setInformativeText: msgCF];