diff --git a/autoload/gundo.vim b/autoload/gundo.vim
index 15ceb8d..70f55f7 100644
--- a/autoload/gundo.vim
+++ b/autoload/gundo.vim
@@ -19,24 +19,6 @@ if v:version < '703'"{{{
     finish
 endif"}}}
 
-if has('python3')"{{{
-    let s:has_supported_python = 2
-elseif has('python')
-    let s:has_supported_python = 1
-else
-    let s:has_supported_python = 0
-endif
-
-if !s:has_supported_python
-    function! s:GundoDidNotLoad()
-        echohl WarningMsg|echomsg "Gundo requires Vim to be compiled with Python 2.4+"|echohl None
-    endfunction
-    command! -nargs=0 GundoToggle call s:GundoDidNotLoad()
-    finish
-endif"}}}
-
-let s:plugin_path = escape(expand('<sfile>:p:h'), '\')
-
 if !exists('g:gundo_width')"{{{
     let g:gundo_width = 45
 endif"}}}
@@ -61,7 +43,26 @@ endif"}}}
 if !exists("g:gundo_close_on_revert")"{{{
     let g:gundo_close_on_revert = 0
 endif"}}}
+if !exists("g:gundo_prefer_python3")"{{{
+    let g:gundo_prefer_python3 = 0
+endif"}}}
 
+let s:has_supported_python = 0
+if g:gundo_prefer_python3 && has('python3')"{{{
+    let s:has_supported_python = 2
+elseif has('python')"
+    let s:has_supported_python = 1
+endif
+
+if !s:has_supported_python
+    function! s:GundoDidNotLoad()
+        echohl WarningMsg|echomsg "Gundo requires Vim to be compiled with Python 2.4+"|echohl None
+    endfunction
+    command! -nargs=0 GundoToggle call s:GundoDidNotLoad()
+    finish
+endif"}}}
+
+let s:plugin_path = escape(expand('<sfile>:p:h'), '\')
 "}}}
 
 "{{{ Gundo utility functions
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ endfunction"}}}
 
 function! s:GundoOpen()"{{{
     if !exists('g:gundo_py_loaded')
-	if s:has_supported_python == 2
+	if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	  exe 'py3file ' . s:plugin_path . '/gundo.py'
 	  python3 initPythonModule()
 	else
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ endfunction"}}}
 "{{{ Gundo rendering
 
 function! s:GundoRenderGraph()"{{{
-    if s:has_supported_python == 2
+    if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	python3 GundoRenderGraph()
     else
 	python GundoRenderGraph()
@@ -378,7 +379,7 @@ function! s:GundoRenderGraph()"{{{
 endfunction"}}}
 
 function! s:GundoRenderPreview()"{{{
-    if s:has_supported_python == 2
+    if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	python3 GundoRenderPreview()
     else
 	python GundoRenderPreview()
@@ -386,7 +387,7 @@ function! s:GundoRenderPreview()"{{{
 endfunction"}}}
 
 function! s:GundoRenderChangePreview()"{{{
-    if s:has_supported_python == 2
+    if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	python3 GundoRenderChangePreview()
     else
 	python GundoRenderChangePreview()
@@ -398,7 +399,7 @@ endfunction"}}}
 "{{{ Gundo undo/redo
 
 function! s:GundoRevert()"{{{
-    if s:has_supported_python == 2
+    if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	python3 GundoRevert()
     else
 	python GundoRevert()
@@ -406,7 +407,7 @@ function! s:GundoRevert()"{{{
 endfunction"}}}
 
 function! s:GundoPlayTo()"{{{
-    if s:has_supported_python == 2
+    if s:has_supported_python == 2 && g:gundo_prefer_python3
 	python3 GundoPlayTo()
     else
 	python GundoPlayTo()