diff --git a/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini b/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
index b33bf3148f..d827fc6f25 100644
--- a/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
+++ b/stepmania/Themes/default/metrics.ini
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ StyleIcon=0
 MemoryCardIcons=0
 TimerSeconds=5
 TimerStealth=1
+ForceTimer=1
 TimerX=
 TimerY=
 TimerOnCommand=hidden,1
@@ -2403,6 +2404,7 @@ TimerY=SCREEN_TOP+22
 TimerOnCommand=draworder,97;addx,SCREEN_WIDTH;spring,0.5;addx,-SCREEN_WIDTH
 TimerOffCommand=bouncebegin,0.5;addx,SCREEN_WIDTH;
 TimerStealth=0
+ForceTimer=0
 
 [MenuTimer]
 WarningStart=6
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
index 0cf10fb93b..80582922b5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenWithMenuElements.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #define TIMER_STEALTH			THEME->GetMetricB(m_sName,"TimerStealth")
 #define STYLE_ICON				THEME->GetMetricB(m_sName,"StyleIcon")
 #define MEMORY_CARD_ICONS		THEME->GetMetricB(m_sName,"MemoryCardIcons")
+#define FORCE_TIMER			THEME->GetMetricB(m_sName,"ForceTimer")
 
 //REGISTER_SCREEN_CLASS( ScreenWithMenuElements );
 ScreenWithMenuElements::ScreenWithMenuElements( CString sClassName ) : Screen( sClassName )
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ ScreenWithMenuElements::~ScreenWithMenuElements()
 
 void ScreenWithMenuElements::ResetTimer()
 {
-	if( TIMER_SECONDS > 0.0f  &&  PREFSMAN->m_bMenuTimer  &&  !GAMESTATE->m_bEditing )
+	if( TIMER_SECONDS > 0.0f  &&  (PREFSMAN->m_bMenuTimer || FORCE_TIMER)  &&  !GAMESTATE->m_bEditing )
 	{
 		m_MenuTimer->SetSeconds( TIMER_SECONDS );
 		m_MenuTimer->Start();