diff --git a/plugin/NERD_tree.vim b/plugin/NERD_tree.vim
index 738ab9e..7462735 100644
--- a/plugin/NERD_tree.vim
+++ b/plugin/NERD_tree.vim
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeShowFiles", 1)
 call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeShowHidden", 0)
 call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeShowLineNumbers", 0)
 call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeSortDirs", 1)
+call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeStopInsert", 0)
 call s:initVariable("g:NERDTreeDirArrows", 0)
 
 if !exists("g:NERDTreeSortOrder")
@@ -169,6 +170,12 @@ command! -n=0 -bar NERDTreeFind call s:findAndRevealPath()
 augroup NERDTree
     "Save the cursor position whenever we close the nerd tree
     exec "autocmd BufWinLeave ". s:NERDTreeBufName ."* call <SID>saveScreenState()"
+
+    if g:NERDTreeStopInsert
+        "disallow insert mode in the NERDTree
+        exec "autocmd BufEnter ". s:NERDTreeBufName ."* stopinsert"
+    endif
+
     "cache bookmarks when vim loads
     autocmd VimEnter * call s:Bookmark.CacheBookmarks(0)