diff --git a/src/app/core.rs b/src/app/core.rs
index 940e1636..38ca72ce 100644
--- a/src/app/core.rs
+++ b/src/app/core.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ pub struct Core {
     /// Whether the window is too small for the nav bar + main content.
     is_condensed: bool,
 
+    /// Enables built in keyboard navigation
+    pub(super) keyboard_nav: bool,
+
     /// Current status of the nav bar panel.
     nav_bar: NavBar,
 
@@ -78,6 +81,7 @@ impl Default for Core {
         Self {
             debug: false,
             is_condensed: false,
+            keyboard_nav: true,
             nav_bar: NavBar {
                 active: true,
                 toggled: true,
@@ -134,6 +138,17 @@ impl Core {
         self.scale_factor
     }
 
+    /// Enable or disable keyboard navigation
+    pub fn set_keyboard_nav(&mut self, enabled: bool) {
+        self.keyboard_nav = enabled;
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    /// Enable or disable keyboard navigation
+    pub fn keyboard_nav(&self) -> bool {
+        self.keyboard_nav
+    }
+
     /// Changes the scaling factor used by the application.
     pub(crate) fn set_scale_factor(&mut self, factor: f32) {
         self.scale_factor = factor;
diff --git a/src/app/cosmic.rs b/src/app/cosmic.rs
index 7c25c68b..1d6258ec 100644
--- a/src/app/cosmic.rs
+++ b/src/app/cosmic.rs
@@ -177,11 +177,8 @@ where
             None
         });
 
-        Subscription::batch(vec![
+        let mut subscriptions = vec![
             self.app.subscription().map(super::Message::App),
-            keyboard_nav::subscription()
-                .map(Message::KeyboardNav)
-                .map(super::Message::Cosmic),
             self.app
                 .core()
                 .watch_config::<cosmic_theme::Theme>(if self.app.core().system_theme_mode.is_dark {
@@ -213,7 +210,17 @@ where
                 .single_instance
                 .then(|| super::single_instance_subscription::<T>())
                 .unwrap_or_else(Subscription::none),
-        ])
+        ];
+
+        if self.app.core().keyboard_nav {
+            subscriptions.push(
+                keyboard_nav::subscription()
+                    .map(Message::KeyboardNav)
+                    .map(super::Message::Cosmic),
+            );
+        }
+
+        Subscription::batch(subscriptions)
     }
 
     #[cfg(not(any(feature = "multi-window", feature = "wayland")))]