diff --git a/docs/example.Xresources b/docs/example.Xresources
index 0f8da58..70566dc 100644
--- a/docs/example.Xresources
+++ b/docs/example.Xresources
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ spmenu.imagewidth:         86
 spmenu.imageheight:        86
 spmenu.imagegaps:          0
 spmenu.imageposition:      0
-spmenu.generatecache:      0
+spmenu.generatecache:      1
 spmenu.mode:               0
 spmenu.fast:               0
 spmenu.hidematchcount:     0
diff --git a/libs/img.c b/libs/img.c
index 5266e8d..33fb8d6 100644
--- a/libs/img.c
+++ b/libs/img.c
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ loadimagecache(const char *file, int *width, int *height)
 	}
 
 	/* try find image from cache first */
-	if(!(xdg_cache = getenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME"))) {
+	if(!(xdg_cache = getenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME")) && generatecache) {
 		if(!(home = getenv("HOME")) && (pw = getpwuid(getuid())))
 			home = pw->pw_dir;
 		if(!home) {
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ loadimagecache(const char *file, int *width, int *height)
         sprintf(&md5[i*2], "%02x", (unsigned int)digest[i]);
 
 	/* path for cached thumbnail */
-	if (xdg_cache)
+	if (xdg_cache && generatecache)
         slen = snprintf(NULL, 0, "%s/thumbnails/%s/%s.png", xdg_cache, dsize, md5)+1;
-	else
+	else if (generatecache)
         slen = snprintf(NULL, 0, "%s/.thumbnails/%s/%s.png", home, dsize, md5)+1;
 
 	if(!(buf = malloc(slen))) {
@@ -231,12 +231,12 @@ loadimagecache(const char *file, int *width, int *height)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (xdg_cache)
+	if (xdg_cache && generatecache)
         sprintf(buf, "%s/thumbnails/%s/%s.png", xdg_cache, dsize, md5);
-	else
+	else if (generatecache)
         sprintf(buf, "%s/.thumbnails/%s/%s.png", home, dsize, md5);
 
-	loadimage(buf, width, height);
+    if (generatecache) loadimage(buf, width, height);
 
 	if (image && *width < imagewidth && *height < imageheight) {
 		imlib_free_image();
diff --git a/libs/img.h b/libs/img.h
index 47f97e0..d6b8ff5 100644
--- a/libs/img.h
+++ b/libs/img.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ static void cleanupimage(void);
 static void drawimage(void);
 static void rotateimage(void);
 static void flipimage(void);
+static void loadimage(const char *file, int *width, int *height);
 static void loadimagecache(const char *file, int *width, int *height);
 static void resizetoimageheight(int imageheight);
 
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
index 7d47edc..3d15d5d 100644
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ static int imagewidth                  = 86; /* Default image width */
 static int imageheight                 = 86; /* Default image height */
 static int imagegaps                   = 0; /* Image gaps */
 static int imageposition               = 0; /* Image position (0: Top, 1: Bottom, 2: Center, 3: Top center) */
-static int generatecache               = 0; /* Generate image cache by default */
+static int generatecache               = 1; /* Generate image cache by default */
 
 /* Mode options */
 static int mode                        = 0; /* Mode to start speedwm in (0: Normal mode, 1: Insert mode) */