diff --git a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/ScriptLoader.java b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/ScriptLoader.java
index b269e5142fb..7759a02563d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/ScriptLoader.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/ScriptLoader.java
@@ -246,8 +246,9 @@ public String toString() {
 	
 	// Load scripts in separate (one) thread
 	static final BlockingQueue<Runnable> loadQueue = new ArrayBlockingQueue<>(20, true);
-	static final Thread loaderThread;
-	static boolean loadAsync; // See below
+	@Nullable
+	static Thread loaderThread;
+	private static boolean loadAsync; // See below
 	
 	/**
 	 * Checks if scripts are loaded in separate thread. If true,
@@ -309,23 +310,32 @@ private static void updateDisabledScripts(Path path) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Initialize and start load thread
-	static {
-		loaderThread = new AsyncLoaderThread();
-		loaderThread.start();
+	static void setLoadAsync(boolean loadAsync) {
+		ScriptLoader.loadAsync = loadAsync;
+
+		// Shutdown old thread in case of config reload
+		if (loaderThread != null) {
+			loaderThread.interrupt();
+		}
+
+		if (ScriptLoader.loadAsync) {
+			// Initialize and start load thread
+			loaderThread = new Thread(new AsyncLoaderTask(), "Skript async script loader thread");
+			loaderThread.start();
+		}
 	}
 	
-	private static class AsyncLoaderThread extends Thread {
+	private static class AsyncLoaderTask implements Runnable {
 		
-		public AsyncLoaderThread() { }
+		public AsyncLoaderTask() { }
 
 		@Override
 		public void run() {
-			while (true) {
+			while (!Thread.currentThread().isInterrupted()) {
 				try {
 					loadQueue.take().run();
 				} catch (InterruptedException e) {
-					Skript.exception(e); // Bubble it up with instructions on how to report it
+					Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/Skript.java b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/Skript.java
index 6e579add513..e02192835af 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/Skript.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/Skript.java
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ static void disableScripts() {
 	 * Prints errors from reloading the config & scripts
 	 */
 	static void reload() {
-		if (!ScriptLoader.loadAsync)
+		if (!ScriptLoader.isAsync())
 			disableScripts();
 		reloadMainConfig();
 		reloadAliases();
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ static void reload() {
 	 * Prints errors
 	 */
 	static void reloadScripts() {
-		if (!ScriptLoader.loadAsync)
+		if (!ScriptLoader.isAsync())
 			disableScripts();
 		ScriptLoader.loadScripts();
 	}
diff --git a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/SkriptConfig.java b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/SkriptConfig.java
index b93ab51e490..864b2235fe4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/SkriptConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/ch/njol/skript/SkriptConfig.java
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ public void set(Boolean t) {
 
 				@Override
 				public void set(Boolean t) {
-					ScriptLoader.loadAsync = t;
+					ScriptLoader.setLoadAsync(t);
 				}
 				
 			})
diff --git a/src/main/resources/config.sk b/src/main/resources/config.sk
index 92a6e897126..cdbbd3f7b50 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/config.sk
+++ b/src/main/resources/config.sk
@@ -186,6 +186,12 @@ keep command last usage dates: false
 # but when the player uses the command again after the cooldown period is over, the last usage will be deleted as it's no longer needed,
 # If you need to use the expression 'last usage date', then you'll want to enable this.
 
+asynchronous script loading: false
+# Enables asynchronous script loading, which will load scripts in the background instead of blocking the server to load scripts.
+# This will not necessarily make loading faster since it will still load the scripts on one thread and not in parallel.
+# Do note that though, this option may cause issues with addons and possibly some scripts! Do NOT enable this option unless you have really long
+# script load times AND you take the risk of lost data and full responsibility!
+
 # ==== Variables ====
 
 databases: