diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
index 345b4f4..c8422f0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ public class Application
         /** Whether window decorations are hidden for the UI. */
         public boolean hideDecorations;
 
+        /** Whether progress text should be hidden or not. */
+        public boolean hideProgressText;
+
         /** The global percentages for each step. A step may have more than one, and
          * the lowest reasonable one is used if a step is revisited. */
         public Map<Step, List<Integer>> stepPercentages =
@@ -156,7 +159,8 @@ public class Application
                 ", pb=" + progressBar + ", srect=" + status + ", st=" + statusText +
                 ", shadow=" + textShadow + ", err=" + installError + ", nrect=" + patchNotes +
                 ", notes=" + patchNotesUrl + ", stepPercentages=" + stepPercentages +
-                ", parect=" + playAgain + ", paimage=" + playAgainImage + "]";
+                ", parect=" + playAgain + ", paimage=" + playAgainImage +
+                ", hideProgressText" + hideProgressText + "]";
         }
 
         /** Initializer */
@@ -662,6 +666,7 @@ public class Application
         _name = ui.name = (String)cdata.get("ui.name");
         ui.progress = parseRect(cdata, "ui.progress", ui.progress);
         ui.progressText = parseColor(cdata, "ui.progress_text", ui.progressText);
+        ui.hideProgressText =  Boolean.parseBoolean((String)cdata.get("ui.hide_progress_text"));
         ui.progressBar = parseColor(cdata, "ui.progress_bar", ui.progressBar);
         ui.status = parseRect(cdata, "ui.status", ui.status);
         ui.statusText = parseColor(cdata, "ui.status_text", ui.statusText);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/launcher/StatusPanel.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/launcher/StatusPanel.java
index 387dc3b..edbcc07 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/launcher/StatusPanel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/launcher/StatusPanel.java
@@ -105,8 +105,11 @@ public class StatusPanel extends JComponent
         // maybe update the progress label
         if (_progress != percent) {
             _progress = percent;
-            String msg = MessageFormat.format(get("m.complete"), percent);
-            _newplab = createLabel(msg, _ifc.progressText);
+
+            if (!_ifc.hideProgressText) {
+                String msg = MessageFormat.format(get("m.complete"), percent);
+                _newplab = createLabel( msg, _ifc.progressText );
+            }
             needsRepaint = true;
         }
 
@@ -127,13 +130,15 @@ public class StatusPanel extends JComponent
             }
             remaining /= values;
 
-            // now compute our display value
-            int minutes = (int)(remaining / 60);
-            int seconds = (int)(remaining % 60);
+            if (!_ifc.hideProgressText) {
+                // now compute our display value
+                int minutes = (int)(remaining / 60);
+                int seconds = (int)(remaining % 60);
 
-            String remstr = minutes + ":" + ((seconds < 10) ? "0" : "") + seconds;
-            String msg = MessageFormat.format(get("m.remain"), remstr);
-            _newrlab = createLabel(msg, _ifc.statusText);
+                String remstr = minutes + ":" + ((seconds < 10) ? "0" : "") + seconds;
+                String msg = MessageFormat.format(get("m.remain"), remstr);
+                _newrlab = createLabel( msg, _ifc.statusText );
+            }
             needsRepaint = true;
 
         } else if (_rlabel != null || _newrlab != null) {