diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index ca757dfe..34386938 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 int mtimeorder  = 0; /* Set to 1 to sort by time modified */
 int idletimeout = 0; /* Screensaver timeout in seconds, 0 to disable */
+int showhidden  = 0; /* Set to 1 to show hidden files by default */
 char *idlecmd   = "rain"; /* The screensaver program */
 
 struct assoc assocs[] = {
diff --git a/noice.c b/noice.c
index a588a55c..0d5627df 100644
--- a/noice.c
+++ b/noice.c
@@ -733,10 +733,9 @@ nochange:
 			DPRINTF_S(path);
 			goto begin;
 		case SEL_TOGGLEDOT:
-			if (strcmp(fltr, ifilter) != 0)
-				strlcpy(fltr, ifilter, sizeof(fltr));
-			else
-				strlcpy(fltr, ".", sizeof(fltr));
+			showhidden ^= 1;
+			ifilter = showhidden ? "." : "^[^.]";
+			strlcpy(fltr, ifilter, sizeof(fltr));
 			goto begin;
 		case SEL_MTIME:
 			mtimeorder = !mtimeorder;
@@ -795,9 +794,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	if (getuid() == 0)
+		showhidden = 1;
+
+	if (showhidden)
 		ifilter = ".";
 	else
-		ifilter = "^[^.]"; /* Hide dotfiles */
+		ifilter = "^[^.]";
 
 	if (argv[1] != NULL) {
 		ipath = argv[1];