diff --git a/loc/US/strings_db.lua b/loc/US/strings_db.lua
index a3e4e249ebf..eb2e26c039e 100644
--- a/loc/US/strings_db.lua
+++ b/loc/US/strings_db.lua
@@ -7620,6 +7620,8 @@ OPTIONS_0283="UI Scale"
 OPTIONS_0284="Changes the size of all UI elements. (requires game restart)"
 OPTIONS_0285="Automatic Extractor Selection"
 OPTIONS_0286="After selecting an engineer, hover the mouse over a mass extractor spot to auto preselect a mass extractor for building"
+OPTIONS_0287="Show Lifebars Only When Damaged"
+OPTIONS_0288="When on, lifebars only appear once a unit takes damage. Hides them on full-HP units. Provides an FPS gain in dense crowds."
 
 lobui_0414 = "%d Build Restrictions"
 lobui_0415 = "1 Build Restriction"
diff --git a/lua/options/options.lua b/lua/options/options.lua
index 330f8751d95..3818e30e3de 100644
--- a/lua/options/options.lua
+++ b/lua/options/options.lua
@@ -990,6 +990,22 @@ options = {
                 },
             },
 
+            {
+                title = "<LOC OPTIONS_0287>Show Lifebars Only When Damaged",
+                key = 'gui_lifebar_only_damaged',
+                type = 'toggle',
+                default = 0,
+                set = function(key, value, startup)
+                    ConExecute("ui_LifebarOnlyDamaged " .. tostring(value))
+                end,
+                custom = {
+                    states = {
+                        { text = "<LOC _Off>", key = 0 },
+                        { text = "<LOC _On>", key = 1 },
+                    },
+                },
+            },
+
             {
                 title = "<LOC options_show_player_names_title>Show Player Names",
                 key = 'options_show_player_names',
diff --git a/lua/ui/help/tooltips.lua b/lua/ui/help/tooltips.lua
index a6877f33a2d..221fc022c3c 100644
--- a/lua/ui/help/tooltips.lua
+++ b/lua/ui/help/tooltips.lua
@@ -951,6 +951,10 @@ Tooltips = {
         title = "<LOC OPTIONS_0222>Show Lifebars of Attached Units",
         description = "<LOC OPTIONS_0219>Toggles the visibility of lifebars of on screen units (lifebars will still show in tooltip information)",
     },
+    options_gui_lifebar_only_damaged = {
+        title = "<LOC OPTIONS_0287>Show Lifebars Only When Damaged",
+        description = "<LOC OPTIONS_0288>When on, lifebars only appear once a unit takes damage. Hides them on full-HP units. Provides an FPS gain in dense crowds.",
+    },
     options_skin_change_on_start = {
         title = "<LOC OPTIONS_0211>Use Factional UI Skin",
         description = "<LOC OPTIONS_0220>When on, the UI skin will change to match the faction you are playing",