diff --git a/settings.json.docker b/settings.json.docker
index 24aef23c8..1dabcdc0c 100644
--- a/settings.json.docker
+++ b/settings.json.docker
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@
    */
   "title": "${TITLE:Etherpad}",
 
+  /*
+  * Whether to show recent pads on the homepage or not.
+  */
+  "showRecentPads": "${SHOW_RECENT_PADS:true}",
+
   /*
    * Pathname of the favicon you want to use. If null, the skin's favicon is
    * used if one is provided by the skin, otherwise the default Etherpad favicon
diff --git a/settings.json.template b/settings.json.template
index 5c8a90cf4..d8e42fe60 100644
--- a/settings.json.template
+++ b/settings.json.template
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@
    */
   "title": "Etherpad",
 
+    /*
+    * Whether to show recent pads on the homepage or not.
+    */
+    "showRecentPads": true,
+
   /*
    * Pathname of the favicon you want to use. If null, the skin's favicon is
    * used if one is provided by the skin, otherwise the default Etherpad favicon
diff --git a/src/node/utils/Settings.ts b/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
index 886350c59..46bc487c8 100644
--- a/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
+++ b/src/node/utils/Settings.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ export type SettingsType = {
   settingsFilename: string,
   credentialsFilename: string,
   title: string,
+  showRecentPads: boolean,
   favicon: string | null,
   ttl: {
     AccessToken: number,
@@ -303,6 +304,12 @@ const settings: SettingsType = {
    * The app title, visible e.g. in the browser window
    */
   title: 'Etherpad',
+
+  /**
+   * Whether to show recent pads on the homepage
+   */
+  showRecentPads: true,
+
   /**
    * Pathname of the favicon you want to use. If null, the skin's favicon is
    * used if one is provided by the skin, otherwise the default Etherpad favicon
diff --git a/src/templates/index.html b/src/templates/index.html
index d46bd3405..8c475367a 100644
--- a/src/templates/index.html
+++ b/src/templates/index.html
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
               background: -moz-linear-gradient(#fff,#ccc);
               background: -ms-linear-gradient(#fff,#ccc);
               background: -o-linear-gradient(#fff,#ccc);
-              box-shadow: 0px 1px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
+              box-shadow: 0 1px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
             }
             #inner {
               position:relative;
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
             #button {
               margin: 0 auto;
               text-align: center;
-              font: 36px verdana,arial,sans-serif;
               width:300px;
               border:none;
               color: white;
@@ -76,7 +75,6 @@
               display:block;
             }
             #padname{
-              height:38px;
               max-width:280px;
             }
             form {
@@ -106,8 +104,6 @@
             button[type="submit"] {
               position: absolute;
               left:253px;
-              width: 45px;
-              height: 38px;
             }
             nav, .mission-statement, .pad-datalist {
               display: none;
@@ -168,11 +164,13 @@
         <% e.end_block(); %>
         </div>
         <div style="display: none" data-l10n-id="index.placeholderPadEnter"></div>
+          <% if (settings.showRecentPads) { %>
         <div class="pad-datalist">
           <h2 data-l10n-id="index.recentPads"></h2>
           <ul id="recent-pads">
           </ul>
         </div>
+          <% } %>
         </div>
         <script src="<%=entrypoint%>"></script>