diff --git a/qapi/ui.json b/qapi/ui.json
index 286c5731d1..0abba3e930 100644
--- a/qapi/ui.json
+++ b/qapi/ui.json
@@ -1199,13 +1199,16 @@
 #               interfaces (e.g. VGA and virtual console character devices)
 #               by default.
 #               Since 7.1
+# @show-menubar: Display the main window menubar. Defaults to "on".
+#                Since 8.0
 #
 # Since: 2.12
 ##
 { 'struct'  : 'DisplayGTK',
   'data'    : { '*grab-on-hover' : 'bool',
                 '*zoom-to-fit'   : 'bool',
-                '*show-tabs'     : 'bool'  } }
+                '*show-tabs'     : 'bool',
+                '*show-menubar'  : 'bool'  } }
 
 ##
 # @DisplayEGLHeadless:
diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index 95b998a13b..bb0979bef9 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -1969,6 +1969,7 @@ DEF("display", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_display,
 #if defined(CONFIG_GTK)
     "-display gtk[,full-screen=on|off][,gl=on|off][,grab-on-hover=on|off]\n"
     "            [,show-tabs=on|off][,show-cursor=on|off][,window-close=on|off]\n"
+    "            [,show-menubar=on|off]\n"
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_VNC)
     "-display vnc=<display>[,<optargs>]\n"
@@ -2061,6 +2062,8 @@ SRST
 
         ``window-close=on|off`` : Allow to quit qemu with window close button
 
+        ``show-menubar=on|off`` : Display the main window menubar, defaults to "on"
+
     ``curses[,charset=<encoding>]``
         Display video output via curses. For graphics device models
         which support a text mode, QEMU can display this output using a
diff --git a/ui/gtk.c b/ui/gtk.c
index 6fc2e23963..92daaa6a6e 100644
--- a/ui/gtk.c
+++ b/ui/gtk.c
@@ -2171,7 +2171,7 @@ static GSList *gd_vc_gfx_init(GtkDisplayState *s, VirtualConsole *vc,
     return group;
 }
 
-static GtkWidget *gd_create_menu_view(GtkDisplayState *s)
+static GtkWidget *gd_create_menu_view(GtkDisplayState *s, DisplayOptions *opts)
 {
     GSList *group = NULL;
     GtkWidget *view_menu;
@@ -2269,7 +2269,8 @@ static GtkWidget *gd_create_menu_view(GtkDisplayState *s)
     s->show_menubar_item = gtk_check_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic(
             _("Show Menubar"));
     gtk_check_menu_item_set_active(GTK_CHECK_MENU_ITEM(s->show_menubar_item),
-                                   TRUE);
+                                   !opts->u.gtk.has_show_menubar ||
+                                   opts->u.gtk.show_menubar);
     gtk_accel_group_connect(s->accel_group, GDK_KEY_m, HOTKEY_MODIFIERS, 0,
             g_cclosure_new_swap(G_CALLBACK(gd_accel_show_menubar), s, NULL));
     gtk_accel_label_set_accel(
@@ -2280,13 +2281,13 @@ static GtkWidget *gd_create_menu_view(GtkDisplayState *s)
     return view_menu;
 }
 
-static void gd_create_menus(GtkDisplayState *s)
+static void gd_create_menus(GtkDisplayState *s, DisplayOptions *opts)
 {
     GtkSettings *settings;
 
     s->accel_group = gtk_accel_group_new();
     s->machine_menu = gd_create_menu_machine(s);
-    s->view_menu = gd_create_menu_view(s);
+    s->view_menu = gd_create_menu_view(s, opts);
 
     s->machine_menu_item = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic(_("_Machine"));
     gtk_menu_item_set_submenu(GTK_MENU_ITEM(s->machine_menu_item),
@@ -2363,7 +2364,7 @@ static void gtk_display_init(DisplayState *ds, DisplayOptions *opts)
 
     gtk_window_set_icon_name(GTK_WINDOW(s->window), "qemu");
 
-    gd_create_menus(s);
+    gd_create_menus(s, opts);
 
     gd_connect_signals(s);
 
@@ -2378,6 +2379,10 @@ static void gtk_display_init(DisplayState *ds, DisplayOptions *opts)
     gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(s->window), s->vbox);
 
     gtk_widget_show_all(s->window);
+    if (opts->u.gtk.has_show_menubar &&
+        !opts->u.gtk.show_menubar) {
+        gtk_widget_hide(s->menu_bar);
+    }
 
     vc = gd_vc_find_current(s);
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive(s->view_menu, vc != NULL);