diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index d0d01f4534..80231d6342 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -585,6 +585,14 @@ Application::Application(int& argc, char** argv, QElapsedTimer &startup_time) :
     // The offscreen UI needs to intercept the mouse and keyboard 
     // events coming from the onscreen window
     _glWidget->installEventFilter(DependencyManager::get<OffscreenUi>().data());
+
+    // initialize our face trackers after loading the menu settings
+    auto faceshiftTracker = DependencyManager::get<Faceshift>();
+    faceshiftTracker->init();
+    connect(faceshiftTracker.data(), &FaceTracker::muteToggled, this, &Application::faceTrackerMuteToggled);
+    auto ddeTracker = DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>();
+    ddeTracker->init();
+    connect(ddeTracker.data(), &FaceTracker::muteToggled, this, &Application::faceTrackerMuteToggled);
 }
 
 
@@ -911,6 +919,12 @@ void Application::audioMuteToggled() {
     muteAction->setChecked(DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>()->isMuted());
 }
 
+void Application::faceTrackerMuteToggled() {
+    QAction* muteAction = Menu::getInstance()->getActionForOption(MenuOption::MuteFaceTracking);
+    Q_CHECK_PTR(muteAction);
+    muteAction->setChecked(getActiveFaceTracker()->isMuted());
+}
+
 void Application::aboutApp() {
     InfoView::forcedShow(INFO_HELP_PATH);
 }
@@ -1889,17 +1903,29 @@ FaceTracker* Application::getActiveFaceTracker() {
 }
 
 void Application::setActiveFaceTracker() {
+    bool isMuted = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::MuteFaceTracking);
 #ifdef HAVE_FACESHIFT
-    DependencyManager::get<Faceshift>()->setTCPEnabled(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Faceshift));
+    auto faceshiftTracker = DependencyManager::get<Faceshift>();
+    faceshiftTracker->setTCPEnabled(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Faceshift));
+    faceshiftTracker->setIsMuted(isMuted);
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_DDE
     bool isUsingDDE = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::UseCamera);
     Menu::getInstance()->getActionForOption(MenuOption::UseAudioForMouth)->setVisible(isUsingDDE);
     Menu::getInstance()->getActionForOption(MenuOption::VelocityFilter)->setVisible(isUsingDDE);
-    DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>()->setEnabled(isUsingDDE);
+    auto ddeTracker = DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>();
+    ddeTracker->setEnabled(isUsingDDE);
+    ddeTracker->setIsMuted(isMuted);
 #endif
 }
 
+void Application::toggleFaceTrackerMute() {
+    FaceTracker* faceTracker = getActiveFaceTracker();
+    if (faceTracker) {
+        faceTracker->toggleMute();
+    }
+}
+
 bool Application::exportEntities(const QString& filename, const QVector<EntityItemID>& entityIDs) {
     QVector<EntityItem*> entities;
 
@@ -2068,10 +2094,6 @@ void Application::init() {
     SixenseManager::getInstance().toggleSixense(true);
 #endif
 
-    // initialize our face trackers after loading the menu settings
-    DependencyManager::get<Faceshift>()->init();
-    DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>()->init();
-
     Leapmotion::init();
     RealSense::init();
 
@@ -2209,7 +2231,7 @@ void Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition() {
             
             isLookingAtSomeone = true;
             //  If I am looking at someone else, look directly at one of their eyes
-            if (tracker) {
+            if (tracker && !tracker->isMuted()) {
                 //  If a face tracker is active, look at the eye for the side my gaze is biased toward
                 if (tracker->getEstimatedEyeYaw() > _myAvatar->getHead()->getFinalYaw()) {
                     // Look at their right eye
@@ -2235,7 +2257,7 @@ void Application::updateMyAvatarLookAtPosition() {
     //
     //  Deflect the eyes a bit to match the detected Gaze from 3D camera if active
     //
-    if (tracker) {
+    if (tracker && !tracker->isMuted()) {
         float eyePitch = tracker->getEstimatedEyePitch();
         float eyeYaw = tracker->getEstimatedEyeYaw();
         const float GAZE_DEFLECTION_REDUCTION_DURING_EYE_CONTACT = 0.1f;
@@ -2290,7 +2312,7 @@ void Application::updateCamera(float deltaTime) {
     if (!OculusManager::isConnected() && !TV3DManager::isConnected() &&
             Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::OffAxisProjection)) {
         FaceTracker* tracker = getActiveFaceTracker();
-        if (tracker) {
+        if (tracker && !tracker->isMuted()) {
             const float EYE_OFFSET_SCALE = 0.025f;
             glm::vec3 position = tracker->getHeadTranslation() * EYE_OFFSET_SCALE;
             float xSign = (_myCamera.getMode() == CAMERA_MODE_MIRROR) ? 1.0f : -1.0f;
@@ -2353,7 +2375,7 @@ void Application::update(float deltaTime) {
         PerformanceTimer perfTimer("devices");
         DeviceTracker::updateAll();
         FaceTracker* tracker = getActiveFaceTracker();
-        if (tracker) {
+        if (tracker && !tracker->isMuted()) {
             tracker->update(deltaTime);
         }
         SixenseManager::getInstance().update(deltaTime);
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index 9f87d05711..91bded9267 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ public slots:
 
     void resetSensors();
     void setActiveFaceTracker();
+    void toggleFaceTrackerMute();
 
     void aboutApp();
     void showEditEntitiesHelp();
@@ -432,6 +433,7 @@ private slots:
     void runTests();
     
     void audioMuteToggled();
+    void faceTrackerMuteToggled();
 
     void setCursorVisible(bool visible);
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.cpp b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
index 90a9d3b22c..789a1ebb27 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
@@ -394,6 +394,12 @@ Menu::Menu() {
     QAction* ddeFiltering = addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(faceTrackingMenu, MenuOption::VelocityFilter, 0, true);
     ddeFiltering->setVisible(false);
 #endif
+#if defined(HAVE_FACESHIFT) || defined(HAVE_DDE)
+    faceTrackingMenu->addSeparator();
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(faceTrackingMenu, MenuOption::MuteFaceTracking, 
+        0, false, 
+        qApp, SLOT(toggleFaceTrackerMute()));
+#endif
     
     auto avatarManager = DependencyManager::get<AvatarManager>(); 
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarDebugMenu, MenuOption::AvatarReceiveStats, 0, false,
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.h b/interface/src/Menu.h
index 7d105687ab..a622668742 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.h
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.h
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ namespace MenuOption {
     const QString Mirror = "Mirror";
     const QString MuteAudio = "Mute Microphone";
     const QString MuteEnvironment = "Mute Environment";
+    const QString MuteFaceTracking = "Mute Face Tracking";
     const QString NoFaceTracking = "None";
     const QString OctreeStats = "Entity Statistics";
     const QString OffAxisProjection = "Off-Axis Projection";
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
index 41c2e9b54c..16cd906133 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine, bool billboard) {
         // Only use face trackers when not playing back a recording.
         if (!myAvatar->isPlaying()) {
             FaceTracker* faceTracker = Application::getInstance()->getActiveFaceTracker();
-            _isFaceTrackerConnected = faceTracker != NULL;
+            _isFaceTrackerConnected = faceTracker != NULL && !faceTracker->isMuted();
             if (_isFaceTrackerConnected) {
                 _blendshapeCoefficients = faceTracker->getBlendshapeCoefficients();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 557d630ebf..73c2e6a6e8 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ void MyAvatar::updateFromTrackers(float deltaTime) {
         estimatedPosition /= OCULUS_LEAN_SCALE;
     } else {
         FaceTracker* tracker = Application::getInstance()->getActiveFaceTracker();
-        if (tracker) {
+        if (tracker && !tracker->isMuted()) {
             estimatedPosition = tracker->getHeadTranslation();
             _trackedHeadPosition = estimatedPosition;
             estimatedRotation = glm::degrees(safeEulerAngles(tracker->getHeadRotation()));
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
index b6525ffb52..72c53e5826 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
@@ -316,7 +316,13 @@ float DdeFaceTracker::getBlendshapeCoefficient(int index) const {
 }
 
 void DdeFaceTracker::decodePacket(const QByteArray& buffer) {
-    if(buffer.size() > MIN_PACKET_SIZE) {
+    _lastReceiveTimestamp = usecTimestampNow();
+
+    if (_isMuted) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (buffer.size() > MIN_PACKET_SIZE) {
         bool isFiltering = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::VelocityFilter);
 
         Packet packet;
@@ -328,7 +334,7 @@ void DdeFaceTracker::decodePacket(const QByteArray& buffer) {
         memcpy(&translation, packet.translation, sizeof(packet.translation));
         glm::quat rotation;
         memcpy(&rotation, &packet.rotation, sizeof(packet.rotation));
-        if (_reset || (_lastReceiveTimestamp == 0)) {
+        if (_reset || (_lastMessageReceived == 0)) {
             memcpy(&_referenceTranslation, &translation, sizeof(glm::vec3));
             memcpy(&_referenceRotation, &rotation, sizeof(glm::quat));
             _reset = false;
@@ -503,5 +509,4 @@ void DdeFaceTracker::decodePacket(const QByteArray& buffer) {
     } else {
         qCWarning(interfaceapp) << "DDE Face Tracker: Decode error";
     }
-    _lastReceiveTimestamp = usecTimestampNow();
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.cpp b/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.cpp
index 0d40249c26..a6351c2d64 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.cpp
@@ -15,16 +15,22 @@
 
 #include "FaceTracker.h"
 #include "InterfaceLogging.h"
+#include "Menu.h"
 
 const int FPS_TIMER_DELAY = 2000;  // ms
 const int FPS_TIMER_DURATION = 2000;  // ms
 
 FaceTracker::FaceTracker() :
     _isCalculatingFPS(false),
-    _frameCount(0)
+    _frameCount(0),
+    _isMuted(false)
 {
 }
 
+void FaceTracker::init() {
+    _isMuted = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::MuteFaceTracking);
+}
+
 inline float FaceTracker::getBlendshapeCoefficient(int index) const {
     return isValidBlendshapeIndex(index) ? glm::mix(0.0f, _blendshapeCoefficients[index], getFadeCoefficient())
                                          : 0.0f;
@@ -101,3 +107,8 @@ void FaceTracker::finishFPSTimer() {
     qCDebug(interfaceapp) << "Face tracker FPS =" << (float)_frameCount / ((float)FPS_TIMER_DURATION / 1000.0f);
     _isCalculatingFPS = false;
 }
+
+void FaceTracker::toggleMute() {
+    _isMuted = !_isMuted;
+    emit muteToggled();
+}
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.h b/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.h
index a0a434ee9e..2ffd9f01bf 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.h
+++ b/interface/src/devices/FaceTracker.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public:
     virtual bool isActive() const { return false; }
     virtual bool isTracking() const { return false; }
     
-    virtual void init() {}
+    virtual void init();
     virtual void update(float deltaTime);
     virtual void reset();
     
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ public:
     bool isValidBlendshapeIndex(int index) const { return index >= 0 && index < getNumBlendshapes(); }
     const QVector<float>& getBlendshapeCoefficients() const;
     float getBlendshapeCoefficient(int index) const;
+
+    bool isMuted() const { return _isMuted; }
+    void setIsMuted(bool isMuted) { _isMuted = isMuted; }
+    void toggleMute();
+
+signals:
+    void muteToggled();
     
 protected:
     FaceTracker();
@@ -56,6 +63,8 @@ protected:
     float _relaxationStatus = 0.0f; // Between 0.0f and 1.0f
     float _fadeCoefficient = 0.0f; // Between 0.0f and 1.0f
 
+    bool _isMuted;
+
     void countFrame();
 
 private slots:
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.cpp b/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.cpp
index 8a0e5a324c..3c3386a076 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ Faceshift::Faceshift() :
 #ifdef HAVE_FACESHIFT
 void Faceshift::init() {
     setTCPEnabled(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Faceshift));
+    FaceTracker::init();
 }
 
 void Faceshift::update(float deltaTime) {
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ void Faceshift::reset() {
 
 bool Faceshift::isActive() const {
     const quint64 ACTIVE_TIMEOUT_USECS = 1000000;
-    return (usecTimestampNow() - _lastTrackingStateReceived) < ACTIVE_TIMEOUT_USECS;
+    return (usecTimestampNow() - _lastReceiveTimestamp) < ACTIVE_TIMEOUT_USECS;
 }
 
 bool Faceshift::isTracking() const {
@@ -196,6 +197,12 @@ void Faceshift::send(const std::string& message) {
 
 void Faceshift::receive(const QByteArray& buffer) {
 #ifdef HAVE_FACESHIFT
+    _lastReceiveTimestamp = usecTimestampNow();
+
+    if (_isMuted) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     _stream.received(buffer.size(), buffer.constData());
     fsMsgPtr msg;
     for (fsMsgPtr msg; (msg = _stream.get_message()); ) {
@@ -240,11 +247,11 @@ void Faceshift::receive(const QByteArray& buffer) {
 
                     const float FRAME_AVERAGING_FACTOR = 0.99f;
                     quint64 usecsNow = usecTimestampNow();
-                    if (_lastTrackingStateReceived != 0) {
+                    if (_lastMessageReceived != 0) {
                         _averageFrameTime = FRAME_AVERAGING_FACTOR * _averageFrameTime +
-                        (1.0f - FRAME_AVERAGING_FACTOR) * (float)(usecsNow - _lastTrackingStateReceived) / 1000000.0f;
+                            (1.0f - FRAME_AVERAGING_FACTOR) * (float)(usecsNow - _lastMessageReceived) / 1000000.0f;
                     }
-                    _lastTrackingStateReceived = usecsNow;
+                    _lastMessageReceived = usecsNow;
                 }
                 break;
             }
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.h b/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.h
index 3d38af5654..d2d9821382 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.h
+++ b/interface/src/devices/Faceshift.h
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ private:
     bool _tcpEnabled = true;
     int _tcpRetryCount = 0;
     bool _tracking = false;
-    quint64 _lastTrackingStateReceived = 0;
+    quint64 _lastReceiveTimestamp = 0;
+    quint64 _lastMessageReceived = 0;
     float _averageFrameTime = STARTING_FACESHIFT_FRAME_TIME;
     
     glm::vec3 _headAngularVelocity = glm::vec3(0.0f);
diff --git a/tests/ui/src/main.cpp b/tests/ui/src/main.cpp
index a5bc50b288..b9bd195ded 100644
--- a/tests/ui/src/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/ui/src/main.cpp
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ public:
         Mirror,
         MuteAudio,
         MuteEnvironment,
+        MuteFaceTracking,
         NoFaceTracking,
         NoShadows,
         OctreeStats,