diff --git a/pelican/processors.py b/pelican/processors.py
index 4b43dd55..e4248645 100644
--- a/pelican/processors.py
+++ b/pelican/processors.py
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ class ArticlesProcessor(Processor):
                 if category != '':
                     metadatas['category'] = unicode(category)
 
-            # fallback on filesystem date
-            if 'date' not in metadatas.keys():
+            if 'date' not in metadatas.keys() and context['FALLBACK_ON_FS_DATE']:
                     metadatas['date'] = datetime.fromtimestamp(os.stat(f).st_ctime)
 
             article = Article(content, metadatas, settings=generator.settings,
diff --git a/pelican/settings.py b/pelican/settings.py
index 0838e856..c53e79d0 100644
--- a/pelican/settings.py
+++ b/pelican/settings.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ _DEFAULT_CONFIG = {'PATH': None,
                    'DISPLAY_PAGES_ON_MENU': True,
                    'PDF_PROCESSOR': False,
                    'DEFAULT_CATEGORY': 'misc',
+                   'FALLBACK_ON_FS_DATE': True,
                   }
 
 def read_settings(filename):