diff --git a/defaults.lua b/defaults.lua
index 4e19dd417..1eefe2292 100644
--- a/defaults.lua
+++ b/defaults.lua
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ DKOPTREADER_CONFIG_DOC_LANGS_TEXT = {"English", "Chinese_S", "Chinese_T"}
 DKOPTREADER_CONFIG_DOC_LANGS_CODE = {"eng", "chi_sim", "chi_tra"}  -- ISO 639-3 language string, 
 DKOPTREADER_CONFIG_DOC_DEFAULT_LANG_CODE = "eng"  -- and make sure you have corresponding training data 
 
+-- gesture detector defaults
+DGESDETECT_DISABLE_DOUBLE_TAP = true
 
 -- ####################################################################
 -- following features are not supported right now
diff --git a/frontend/ui/gesturedetector.lua b/frontend/ui/gesturedetector.lua
index a84aa5181..2ed90be7d 100644
--- a/frontend/ui/gesturedetector.lua
+++ b/frontend/ui/gesturedetector.lua
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ function GestureDetector:handleDoubleTap(tev)
 	DEBUG("set up tap timer")
 	-- deadline should be calculated by adding current tap time and the interval
 	local deadline = cur_tap.timev + TimeVal:new{
-		sec = 0, usec = self.DOUBLE_TAP_INTERVAL,
+		sec = 0,
+		usec = not Input.disable_double_tap and self.DOUBLE_TAP_INTERVAL or 0,
 	}
 	Input:setTimeout(function()
 		DEBUG("in tap timer", self.last_taps[slot] ~= nil)
diff --git a/frontend/ui/inputevent.lua b/frontend/ui/inputevent.lua
index 186a81145..8a28b6ab3 100644
--- a/frontend/ui/inputevent.lua
+++ b/frontend/ui/inputevent.lua
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ Input = {
 	},
 	rotation = 0,
 	timer_callbacks = {},
+	disable_double_tap = DGESDETECT_DISABLE_DOUBLE_TAP,
 }
 
 function Input:initKeyMap()