diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index 130644d7f..3658bff35 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -457,6 +457,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
     , mCellLoadingThreshold(1024.f)
     , mPreloadDistance(Settings::Manager::getInt("preload distance", "Cells"))
     , mPreloadEnabled(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload enabled", "Cells"))
+    , mPreloadExteriorGrid(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload exterior grid", "Cells"))
+    , mPreloadDoors(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload doors", "Cells"))
+    , mPreloadFastTravel(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload fast travel", "Cells"))
     {
         mPreloader.reset(new CellPreloader(rendering.getResourceSystem(), physics->getShapeManager()));
         mPreloader->setWorkQueue(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
@@ -631,9 +634,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     void Scene::preloadCells()
     {
-        preloadTeleportDoorDestinations();
-        preloadExteriorGrid();
-        preloadFastTravelDestinations();
+        if (mPreloadDoors)
+            preloadTeleportDoorDestinations();
+        if (mPreloadExteriorGrid)
+            preloadExteriorGrid();
+        if (mPreloadFastTravel)
+            preloadFastTravelDestinations();
     }
 
     void Scene::preloadTeleportDoorDestinations()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
index f473f7a3c..5c429f7c7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.hpp
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ namespace MWWorld
             float mPreloadDistance;
             bool mPreloadEnabled;
 
+            bool mPreloadExteriorGrid;
+            bool mPreloadDoors;
+            bool mPreloadFastTravel;
+
             void insertCell (CellStore &cell, bool rescale, Loading::Listener* loadingListener);
 
             // Load and unload cells as necessary to create a cell grid with "X" and "Y" in the center
diff --git a/files/settings-default.cfg b/files/settings-default.cfg
index 4df20e709..4a9a5dd65 100644
--- a/files/settings-default.cfg
+++ b/files/settings-default.cfg
@@ -37,9 +37,18 @@ first person field of view = 55.0
 # dramatically affect performance, see documentation for details.
 exterior cell load distance = 1
 
-# Preload cells in a background thread
+# Preload cells in a background thread. All settings starting with 'preload' have no effect unless this is enabled.
 preload enabled = true
 
+# Preload adjacent cells when moving close to an exterior cell border.
+preload exterior grid = true
+
+# Preload possible fast travel destinations.
+preload fast travel = true
+
+# Preload the locations that doors lead to.
+preload doors = true
+
 # Preloading distance threshold
 preload distance = 1000