diff --git a/dmenu_run b/dmenu_run
index 834ede5..dfa928a 100755
--- a/dmenu_run
+++ b/dmenu_run
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+
+# don't run dmenu in gaming mode
+[[ -f "$HOME/.gaming" ]] && exit 0
+
 dmenu_path | dmenu "$@" | ${SHELL:-"/bin/sh"} &