diff --git a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
index ee84bc8f1c..759d5fa9ea 100644
--- a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
+++ b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ Interface changes
     - add a `--watch-later-options` option to allow configuring which
       options quit-watch-later saves
     - make `current-window-scale` writeable and use it in the default input.conf
+    - add `--input-builtin-bindings` flag to control loading of built-in key
+      bindings during start-up (default: yes).
+
  --- mpv 0.33.0 ---
     - add `--d3d11-exclusive-fs` flag to enable D3D11 exclusive fullscreen mode
       when the player enters fullscreen.
diff --git a/DOCS/man/options.rst b/DOCS/man/options.rst
index 34d29db083..812b66639f 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/options.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/options.rst
@@ -3842,6 +3842,11 @@ Input
     using ``mp.add_key_binding`` (but not ``mp.add_forced_key_binding``).
     This might change in the future to exclude ``mp.add_key_binding``.
 
+``--no-input-builtin-bindings``
+    Disable loading of built-in key bindings during start-up. This option is
+    applied only during (lib)mpv initialization, and if used then it will not
+    be not possible to enable them later. May be useful to libmpv clients.
+
 ``--input-cmdlist``
     Prints all commands that can be bound to keys.
 
diff --git a/input/input.c b/input/input.c
index 40abd7d0fa..f69517f748 100644
--- a/input/input.c
+++ b/input/input.c
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ struct input_opts {
     int use_gamepad;
     int use_media_keys;
     int default_bindings;
+    int builtin_bindings;
     int enable_mouse_movements;
     int vo_key_input;
     int test;
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ const struct m_sub_options input_config = {
         {"input-keylist", OPT_PRINT(mp_print_key_list)},
         {"input-cmdlist", OPT_PRINT(mp_print_cmd_list)},
         {"input-default-bindings", OPT_FLAG(default_bindings)},
+        {"input-builtin-bindings", OPT_FLAG(builtin_bindings)},
         {"input-test", OPT_FLAG(test)},
         {"input-doubleclick-time", OPT_INT(doubleclick_time),
          M_RANGE(0, 1000)},
@@ -218,6 +220,7 @@ const struct m_sub_options input_config = {
         .enable_mouse_movements = 1,
         .use_media_keys = 1,
         .default_bindings = 1,
+        .builtin_bindings = 1,
         .vo_key_input = 1,
         .allow_win_drag = 1,
     },
@@ -1367,7 +1370,7 @@ void mp_input_load_config(struct input_ctx *ictx)
     // "Uncomment" the default key bindings in etc/input.conf and add them.
     // All lines that do not start with '# ' are parsed.
     bstr builtin = bstr0(builtin_input_conf);
-    while (builtin.len) {
+    while (ictx->opts->builtin_bindings && builtin.len) {
         bstr line = bstr_getline(builtin, &builtin);
         bstr_eatstart0(&line, "#");
         if (!bstr_startswith0(line, " "))