diff --git a/editors/code/package.json b/editors/code/package.json
index 3834f28473e..3e8cde38808 100644
--- a/editors/code/package.json
+++ b/editors/code/package.json
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@
                     "default": "ra_lsp_server",
                     "description": "Path to ra_lsp_server executable"
                 },
+                "rust-analyzer.enableCargoWatchOnStartup": {
+                    "type": "boolean",
+                    "default": "true",
+                    "description": "When enabled, ask the user whether to run `cargo watch` on startup"
+                },
                 "rust-analyzer.trace.server": {
                     "type": "string",
                     "scope": "window",
diff --git a/editors/code/src/commands/runnables.ts b/editors/code/src/commands/runnables.ts
index 285afaaf674..74407dc3e5b 100644
--- a/editors/code/src/commands/runnables.ts
+++ b/editors/code/src/commands/runnables.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ export const autoCargoWatchTask: vscode.Task = {
  * that, when accepted, allow us to `cargo install cargo-watch` and then run it.
  */
 export async function interactivelyStartCargoWatch() {
+    if (!Server.config.enableCargoWatchOnStartup) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     const execAsync = util.promisify(exec);
 
     const watch = await vscode.window.showInformationMessage(
diff --git a/editors/code/src/config.ts b/editors/code/src/config.ts
index afc5cc6aff6..d8795f3b0f8 100644
--- a/editors/code/src/config.ts
+++ b/editors/code/src/config.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export class Config {
     public enableEnhancedTyping = true;
     public raLspServerPath = RA_LSP_DEBUG || 'ra_lsp_server';
     public showWorkspaceLoadedNotification = true;
+    public enableCargoWatchOnStartup = true;
 
     private prevEnhancedTyping: null | boolean = null;
 
@@ -68,5 +69,12 @@ export class Config {
             this.raLspServerPath =
                 RA_LSP_DEBUG || (config.get('raLspServerPath') as string);
         }
+
+        if (config.has('enableCargoWatchOnStartup')) {
+            this.enableCargoWatchOnStartup = config.get<boolean>(
+                'enableCargoWatchOnStartup',
+                true
+            );
+        }
     }
 }