diff --git a/apps/features.txt b/apps/features.txt
index 45e06e5e64..da2064ab2f 100644
--- a/apps/features.txt
+++ b/apps/features.txt
@@ -289,3 +289,9 @@ multi_boot
 #if defined(HIBY_LINUX)
 hibylinux
 #endif
+
+#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || \
+    (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
+    (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IRIVER_H10_PAD)
+clear_settings_on_hold
+#endif
diff --git a/apps/lang/english.lang b/apps/lang/english.lang
index 3b505bb9a2..f4571aa6bc 100644
--- a/apps/lang/english.lang
+++ b/apps/lang/english.lang
@@ -16368,3 +16368,20 @@
     *: "Keep Current Track When Replacing Playlist"
   </voice>
 </phrase>
+<phrase>
+  id: LANG_CLEAR_SETTINGS_ON_HOLD
+  desc: in the system sub menu
+  user: core
+  <source>
+    *: none
+    clear_settings_on_hold, ipod4g, iriverh10: "Clear settings when hold switch is on during startup"
+  </source>
+  <dest>
+    *: none
+    clear_settings_on_hold, ipod4g, iriverh10: "Clear settings when hold switch is on during startup"
+  </dest>
+  <voice>
+    *: none
+    clear_settings_on_hold, ipod4g, iriverh10: "Clear settings when hold switch is on during startup"
+  </voice>
+</phrase>
diff --git a/apps/main.c b/apps/main.c
index dff9dc5778..d52c17a67e 100644
--- a/apps/main.c
+++ b/apps/main.c
@@ -566,7 +566,12 @@ static void init(void)
     pcm_init();
     dsp_init();
 
-#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
+    CHART(">settings_load(ALL)");
+    settings_load(SETTINGS_ALL);
+    CHART("<settings_load(ALL)");
+
+#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || \
+    (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
     (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IRIVER_H10_PAD)
 #ifdef SETTINGS_RESET
     /* Reset settings if holding the reset button. (Rec on Archos,
@@ -577,16 +582,13 @@ static void init(void)
     if (button_hold())
 #endif
     {
-        splash(HZ*2, str(LANG_RESET_DONE_CLEAR));
-        settings_reset();
+        if (global_settings.clear_settings_on_hold)
+        {
+            splash(HZ*2, str(LANG_RESET_DONE_CLEAR));
+            settings_reset();
+        }
     }
-    else
 #endif
-    {
-        CHART(">settings_load(ALL)");
-        settings_load(SETTINGS_ALL);
-        CHART("<settings_load(ALL)");
-    }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_DIRCACHE
     CHART(">init_dircache(true)");
diff --git a/apps/menus/settings_menu.c b/apps/menus/settings_menu.c
index 2539f17860..60f206c86f 100644
--- a/apps/menus/settings_menu.c
+++ b/apps/menus/settings_menu.c
@@ -584,6 +584,14 @@ MENUITEM_SETTING(keypress_restarts_sleeptimer,
                  &global_settings.keypress_restarts_sleeptimer, NULL);
 MENUITEM_SETTING(show_shutdown_message, &global_settings.show_shutdown_message, NULL);
 
+#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IRIVER_H10_PAD)
+#define SETTINGS_CLEAR_ON_HOLD
+MENUITEM_SETTING(clear_settings_on_hold,
+                 &global_settings.clear_settings_on_hold, NULL);
+#endif
+
 MAKE_MENU(startup_shutdown_menu, ID2P(LANG_STARTUP_SHUTDOWN),
           0, Icon_System_menu,
             &show_shutdown_message,
@@ -592,7 +600,11 @@ MAKE_MENU(startup_shutdown_menu, ID2P(LANG_STARTUP_SHUTDOWN),
             &sleeptimer_toggle,
             &sleeptimer_duration,
             &sleeptimer_on_startup,
-            &keypress_restarts_sleeptimer
+            &keypress_restarts_sleeptimer,
+#if defined(SETTINGS_CLEAR_ON_HOLD)
+            &clear_settings_on_hold,
+#undef SETTINGS_CLEAR_ON_HOLD
+#endif
          );
 
 /*    STARTUP/SHUTDOWN MENU      */
diff --git a/apps/settings.h b/apps/settings.h
index 9af8e27e5e..ae9b6f31ce 100644
--- a/apps/settings.h
+++ b/apps/settings.h
@@ -868,6 +868,11 @@ struct user_settings
 #if defined(DX50) || defined(DX90) || (defined(HAVE_USB_POWER) && !defined(USB_NONE) && !defined(SIMULATOR))
     int usb_mode;
 #endif
+#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IRIVER_H10_PAD)
+    bool clear_settings_on_hold;
+#endif
 };
 
 /** global variables **/
diff --git a/apps/settings_list.c b/apps/settings_list.c
index 0e39a58b1a..e230a5a081 100644
--- a/apps/settings_list.c
+++ b/apps/settings_list.c
@@ -2168,6 +2168,12 @@ const struct settings_list settings[] = {
 #endif
 	    ),
 #endif
+#if defined(SETTINGS_RESET) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IPOD_4G_PAD) || \
+           (CONFIG_KEYPAD == IRIVER_H10_PAD)
+    OFFON_SETTING(0, clear_settings_on_hold, LANG_CLEAR_SETTINGS_ON_HOLD,
+                  true, "clear settings on hold", NULL),
+#endif
 };
 
 const int nb_settings = sizeof(settings)/sizeof(*settings);
diff --git a/manual/appendix/config_file_options.tex b/manual/appendix/config_file_options.tex
index b188c953f8..9de95c257b 100644
--- a/manual/appendix/config_file_options.tex
+++ b/manual/appendix/config_file_options.tex
@@ -374,7 +374,10 @@
       sync RDS time
                 & off, on               & N/A\\
     }%
-
+    \opt{clear_settings_on_hold}{
+      clear settings on hold
+                & off, on               & N/A\\
+    }%
     \bottomrule
   \end{longtable}
 \end{center}
diff --git a/manual/configure_rockbox/startup_shutdown_options.tex b/manual/configure_rockbox/startup_shutdown_options.tex
index 7952985ece..9bc85d6be8 100644
--- a/manual/configure_rockbox/startup_shutdown_options.tex
+++ b/manual/configure_rockbox/startup_shutdown_options.tex
@@ -36,6 +36,19 @@ are run at startup, or initiate a shutdown when conditions are met.
       to be enabled.
   \end{description}
 
+\opt{clear_settings_on_hold}{
+\subsection{\label{ref:ClearOnHold}Hold switch clears settings on startup }
+  This option controls whether Rockbox clears its configuration if the hold
+  switch is enabled during startup.
+
+  \begin{description}
+    \item[Yes.]
+          Clear the settings if the hold switch is enabled during startup.
+    \item[No.]
+          Do not clear the settings, regardless of the hold switch's position.
+    \end{description}
+}
+
 \subsection{\label{ref:IdlePoweroffSetting}Idle Poweroff}
   Rockbox can be configured to turn off power after the unit has been idle for
   a defined number of minutes. The \dap{} is idle when playback is stopped or