diff --git a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
index 878f723f..7f88679c 100644
--- a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
+++ b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
@@ -96,18 +96,19 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
 
         /***** Initialization *****/
 
+        var ENABLED = c9.location.indexOf("debug=2") > -1
+            || experimental.addExperiment("plugin-manager", false, "SDK/Plugin Manager");
+
         var plugin = new PreferencePanel("Ajax.org", main.consumes, {
             caption: "Plugin Manager",
             className: "plugins",
             form: false,
             noscroll: true,
-            index: 200
+            index: 200,
+            visible: ENABLED,
         });
         // var emit = plugin.getEmitter();
 
-        var ENABLED = c9.location.indexOf("debug=2") > -1;
-        var MANAGER = experimental.addExperiment("plugin-manager", false, "SDK/Plugin Manager");
-
         var model, datagrid, filterbox;
         var btnUninstall, btnReport, btnReadme, btnCloud9, btnReload;
 
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
             if (loaded) return false;
             loaded = true;
 
-            if (!MANAGER && !ENABLED) return;
+            if (!ENABLED) return;
 
             // @TODO enable/disable plugins -> move to ext
 
diff --git a/plugins/c9.ide.preferences/preferencepanel.js b/plugins/c9.ide.preferences/preferencepanel.js
index b3be9ed0..1aae2292 100644
--- a/plugins/c9.ide.preferences/preferencepanel.js
+++ b/plugins/c9.ide.preferences/preferencepanel.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ define(function(require, module, exports) {
             var caption = options.caption;
             var noscroll = options.noscroll;
             var className = options.className || "";
+            var visible = options.visible == null || options.visible;
             var index = options.index || 100;
             var headings = {};
             var subHeadings = {};
@@ -240,6 +241,8 @@ define(function(require, module, exports) {
             /***** LifeCycle *****/
             
             plugin.on("load", function(){
+                if (!visible) return;
+                
                 navHtml = prefs.addNavigation(caption, index, null, plugin);
                 navHtml.addEventListener("mousedown", function(){
                     prefs.activate(plugin);