diff --git a/src/command/command.c b/src/command/command.c
index b68ce3d2..7495506f 100644
--- a/src/command/command.c
+++ b/src/command/command.c
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ static char* _close_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _plugins_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _sendfile_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _blocked_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
+static char *_tray_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 
 GHashTable *commands = NULL;
 
@@ -1412,17 +1413,21 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
     },
 
     { "/tray",
-        parse_args, 1, 1, &cons_tray_setting,
+        parse_args, 1, 2, &cons_tray_setting,
         CMD_NOSUBFUNCS
         CMD_MAINFUNC(cmd_tray)
         CMD_TAGS(
             CMD_TAG_UI)
         CMD_SYN(
-            "/tray on|off")
+            "/tray on|off",
+            "/tray read on|off",
+            "/tray timer <seconds>")
         CMD_DESC(
             "Display an icon in the tray that will indicate new messages.")
         CMD_ARGS(
-            { "on|off", "Enable or disable tray icon." })
+            { "on|off",             "Show tray icon." },
+            { "read on|off",        "Show tray icon when no unread messages." },
+            { "timer <seconds>",    "Set tray icon timer, seconds must be between 1-10" })
         CMD_NOEXAMPLES
     },
 
@@ -2299,6 +2304,7 @@ static Autocomplete plugins_ac;
 static Autocomplete plugins_load_ac;
 static Autocomplete sendfile_ac;
 static Autocomplete blocked_ac;
+static Autocomplete tray_ac;
 
 /*
  * Initialise command autocompleter and history
@@ -2859,6 +2865,12 @@ cmd_init(void)
     blocked_ac = autocomplete_new();
     autocomplete_add(blocked_ac, "add");
     autocomplete_add(blocked_ac, "remove");
+
+    tray_ac = autocomplete_new();
+    autocomplete_add(tray_ac, "on");
+    autocomplete_add(tray_ac, "off");
+    autocomplete_add(tray_ac, "read");
+    autocomplete_add(tray_ac, "timer");
 }
 
 void
@@ -2950,6 +2962,7 @@ cmd_uninit(void)
     autocomplete_free(plugins_load_ac);
     autocomplete_free(sendfile_ac);
     autocomplete_free(blocked_ac);
+    autocomplete_free(tray_ac);
 }
 
 gboolean
@@ -3180,6 +3193,7 @@ cmd_reset_autocomplete(ProfWin *window)
     autocomplete_reset(autoping_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(plugins_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(blocked_ac);
+    autocomplete_reset(tray_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(script_ac);
     if (script_show_ac) {
         autocomplete_free(script_show_ac);
@@ -3358,7 +3372,7 @@ _cmd_complete_parameters(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
     // autocomplete boolean settings
     gchar *boolean_choices[] = { "/beep", "/intype", "/states", "/outtype", "/flash", "/splash", "/chlog", "/grlog",
         "/history", "/vercheck", "/privileges", "/presence", "/wrap", "/winstidy", "/carbons", "/encwarn",
-        "/lastactivity", "/tray" };
+        "/lastactivity" };
 
     for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(boolean_choices); i++) {
         result = autocomplete_param_with_func(input, boolean_choices[i], prefs_autocomplete_boolean_choice);
@@ -3475,6 +3489,7 @@ _cmd_complete_parameters(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/plugins",       _plugins_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/sendfile",      _sendfile_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/blocked",       _blocked_autocomplete);
+    g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/tray",          _tray_autocomplete);
 
     int len = strlen(input);
     char parsed[len+1];
@@ -3534,6 +3549,23 @@ _sub_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static char*
+_tray_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
+{
+    char *result = NULL;
+    result = autocomplete_param_with_func(input, "/tray read", prefs_autocomplete_boolean_choice);
+    if (result) {
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    result = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, "/tray", tray_ac, FALSE);
+    if (result) {
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static char*
 _who_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
 {
diff --git a/src/command/commands.c b/src/command/commands.c
index f64c16e6..3060cf49 100644
--- a/src/command/commands.c
+++ b/src/command/commands.c
@@ -5865,17 +5865,60 @@ gboolean
 cmd_tray(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_GTK
-    gboolean old = prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY);
-    _cmd_set_boolean_preference(args[0], command, "Tray icon", PREF_TRAY);
-    gboolean new = prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY);
-    if (old != new) {
-        if (new) {
-            tray_enable();
-        } else {
-            tray_disable();
+    if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "timer") == 0) {
+        if (args[1] == NULL) {
+            cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
+            return TRUE;
         }
+
+        if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY) == FALSE) {
+            cons_show("Tray icon not currently enabled, see /help tray");
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        int intval = 0;
+        char *err_msg = NULL;
+        gboolean res = strtoi_range(args[1], &intval, 1, 10, &err_msg);
+        if (res) {
+            cons_show("Tray timer set to %d seconds.", intval);
+            prefs_set_tray_timer(intval);
+            if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY)) {
+                tray_set_timer(intval);
+            }
+        } else {
+            cons_show(err_msg);
+            free(err_msg);
+        }
+
+        return TRUE;
+    } else if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "read") == 0) {
+        if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY) == FALSE) {
+            cons_show("Tray icon not currently enabled, see /help tray");
+        } else if (g_strcmp0(args[1], "on") == 0) {
+            prefs_set_boolean(PREF_TRAY_READ, TRUE);
+            cons_show("Tray icon enabled when no unread messages.");
+        } else if (g_strcmp0(args[1], "off") == 0) {
+            prefs_set_boolean(PREF_TRAY_READ, FALSE);
+            cons_show("Tray icon disabled when no unread messages.");
+        } else {
+            cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
+        }
+
+        return TRUE;
+    } else {
+        gboolean old = prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY);
+        _cmd_set_boolean_preference(args[0], command, "Tray icon", PREF_TRAY);
+        gboolean new = prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY);
+        if (old != new) {
+            if (new) {
+                tray_enable();
+            } else {
+                tray_disable();
+            }
+        }
+
+        return TRUE;
     }
-    return TRUE;
 #else
     cons_show("This version of Profanity has not been built with GTK Tray Icon support enabled");
     return TRUE;
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index 72cf0400..5d3d0512 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -591,6 +591,25 @@ prefs_set_autoxa_time(gint value)
     _save_prefs();
 }
 
+void
+prefs_set_tray_timer(gint value)
+{
+    g_key_file_set_integer(prefs, PREF_GROUP_NOTIFICATIONS, "tray.timer", value);
+    _save_prefs();
+}
+
+gint
+prefs_get_tray_timer(void)
+{
+    gint result = g_key_file_get_integer(prefs, PREF_GROUP_NOTIFICATIONS, "tray.timer", NULL);
+
+    if (result == 0) {
+        return 5;
+    } else {
+        return result;
+    }
+}
+
 gchar**
 prefs_get_plugins(void)
 {
@@ -1242,6 +1261,7 @@ _get_group(preference_t pref)
         case PREF_NOTIFY_MENTION_CASE_SENSITIVE:
         case PREF_NOTIFY_MENTION_WHOLE_WORD:
         case PREF_TRAY:
+        case PREF_TRAY_READ:
             return PREF_GROUP_NOTIFICATIONS;
         case PREF_CHLOG:
         case PREF_GRLOG:
@@ -1294,6 +1314,8 @@ _get_key(preference_t pref)
             return "flash";
         case PREF_TRAY:
             return "tray";
+        case PREF_TRAY_READ:
+            return "tray.read";
         case PREF_INTYPE:
             return "intype";
         case PREF_HISTORY:
@@ -1507,6 +1529,7 @@ _get_default_boolean(preference_t pref)
         case PREF_TLS_SHOW:
         case PREF_LASTACTIVITY:
         case PREF_NOTIFY_MENTION_WHOLE_WORD:
+        case PREF_TRAY_READ:
             return TRUE;
         default:
             return FALSE;
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index e4968521..5e4b28ef 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ typedef enum {
     PREF_TITLEBAR_GOODBYE,
     PREF_FLASH,
     PREF_TRAY,
+    PREF_TRAY_READ,
     PREF_INTYPE,
     PREF_HISTORY,
     PREF_CARBONS,
@@ -223,6 +224,9 @@ void prefs_set_roster_presence_indent(gint value);
 
 void prefs_add_login(const char *jid);
 
+void prefs_set_tray_timer(gint value);
+gint prefs_get_tray_timer(void);
+
 gboolean prefs_add_alias(const char *const name, const char *const value);
 gboolean prefs_remove_alias(const char *const name);
 char* prefs_get_alias(const char *const name);
diff --git a/src/tray.c b/src/tray.c
index ff9593c3..c16557a3 100644
--- a/src/tray.c
+++ b/src/tray.c
@@ -131,9 +131,22 @@ _tray_change_icon(gpointer data)
     unread_messages = wins_get_total_unread();
 
     if (unread_messages) {
-        gtk_status_icon_set_from_file(prof_tray, icon_msg_filename->str);
+        if (!prof_tray) {
+            prof_tray = gtk_status_icon_new_from_file(icon_msg_filename->str);
+        } else {
+            gtk_status_icon_set_from_file(prof_tray, icon_msg_filename->str);
+        }
     } else {
-        gtk_status_icon_set_from_file(prof_tray, icon_filename->str);
+        if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY_READ)) {
+            if (!prof_tray) {
+                prof_tray = gtk_status_icon_new_from_file(icon_filename->str);
+            } else {
+                gtk_status_icon_set_from_file(prof_tray, icon_filename->str);
+            }
+        } else {
+            g_clear_object(&prof_tray);
+            prof_tray = NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     return TRUE;
@@ -179,13 +192,22 @@ tray_shutdown(void)
     g_string_free(icon_msg_filename, TRUE);
 }
 
+void
+tray_set_timer(int interval)
+{
+    g_source_remove(timer);
+    _tray_change_icon(NULL);
+    timer = g_timeout_add(interval * 1000, _tray_change_icon, NULL);
+}
+
 void
 tray_enable(void)
 {
     prof_tray = gtk_status_icon_new_from_file(icon_filename->str);
     shutting_down = FALSE;
     _tray_change_icon(NULL);
-    timer = g_timeout_add(5000, _tray_change_icon, NULL);
+    int interval = prefs_get_tray_timer() * 1000;
+    timer = g_timeout_add(interval, _tray_change_icon, NULL);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/tray.h b/src/tray.h
index 81ddd20f..751af07c 100644
--- a/src/tray.h
+++ b/src/tray.h
@@ -51,4 +51,6 @@ void tray_enable(void);
  */
 void tray_disable(void);
 
+void tray_set_timer(int interval);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/ui/console.c b/src/ui/console.c
index 7adc0147..3f44f133 100644
--- a/src/ui/console.c
+++ b/src/ui/console.c
@@ -1188,6 +1188,14 @@ cons_tray_setting(void)
         cons_show("Tray icon (/tray)                   : ON");
     else
         cons_show("Tray icon (/tray)                   : OFF");
+
+    if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_TRAY_READ))
+        cons_show("Tray icon read (/tray)              : ON");
+    else
+        cons_show("Tray icon read (/tray)              : OFF");
+
+    int seconds = prefs_get_tray_timer();
+    cons_show("Tray timer (/tray)                  : %d seconds", seconds);
 }
 
 void