diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmPreferences.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmPreferences.java
index 46d325a4e..54bf6da23 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmPreferences.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmPreferences.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.todoroo.astrid.actfm.sync.ActFmPreferenceService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.actfm.sync.ActFmSyncV2Provider;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.billing.BillingActivity;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.gtasks.GtasksPreferenceService;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.service.PremiumUnlockService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsConstants;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.sync.SyncProviderPreferences;
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ public class ActFmPreferences extends SyncProviderPreferences {
 
         PreferenceScreen screen = getPreferenceScreen();
         Preference inAppBilling = findPreference(getString(R.string.actfm_inapp_billing));
-        if (Constants.ASTRID_LITE)
+        if (Constants.ASTRID_LITE || Preferences.getBoolean(PremiumUnlockService.PREF_KILL_SWITCH, false))
             screen.removePreference(inAppBilling);
         else
             inAppBilling.setOnPreferenceClickListener(new OnPreferenceClickListener() {
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmPreferenceService.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmPreferenceService.java
index 10da26b16..6772b08af 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmPreferenceService.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmPreferenceService.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.Preferences;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.billing.BillingConstants;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.dao.RemoteModelDao;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.data.RemoteModel;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.service.PremiumUnlockService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsConstants;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.sync.SyncProviderUtilities;
@@ -150,6 +151,9 @@ public class ActFmPreferenceService extends SyncProviderUtilities {
     }
 
     public static boolean isPremiumUser() {
+        if (Preferences.getBoolean(PremiumUnlockService.PREF_KILL_SWITCH, false))
+            return true;
+
         if (Preferences.getBoolean(BillingConstants.PREF_NEEDS_SERVER_UPDATE, false)) {
             return Preferences.getBoolean(PREF_LOCAL_PREMIUM, false);
         }
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/PremiumUnlockService.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/PremiumUnlockService.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d6e5645f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/PremiumUnlockService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package com.todoroo.astrid.service;
+
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.Autowired;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.DependencyInjectionService;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.RestClient;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.Preferences;
+
+public class PremiumUnlockService {
+
+    public static final String PREF_KILL_SWITCH = "p_premium_kill_switch"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+    private static final String PREM_SWITCH_URL = "http://astrid.com/home/premium_check"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
+    @Autowired
+    private RestClient restClient;
+
+    public PremiumUnlockService() {
+        DependencyInjectionService.getInstance().inject(this);
+    }
+
+    public void checkForPremium() {
+        if (Preferences.getBoolean(PREF_KILL_SWITCH, false))
+            return;
+
+        try {
+            String response = restClient.get(PREM_SWITCH_URL).trim();
+            if ("OFF".equals(response)) //$NON-NLS-1$
+                Preferences.setBoolean(PREF_KILL_SWITCH, true);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            e.printStackTrace();
+        }
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
index 27180c5eb..13ab318a9 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ public class StartupService {
                 if (finalLatestVersion != 0)
                     new UpdateMessageService(context).processUpdates();
 
+                new PremiumUnlockService().checkForPremium();
+
                 checkForSubtasksUse();
                 checkForSwipeListsUse();
                 checkForVoiceRemindersUse();