diff --git a/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.cpp b/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.cpp
index 76809241e..697e46644 100644
--- a/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.cpp
+++ b/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,15 @@ KateConfigDialog::KateConfigDialog ( KateMainWindow *parent, Kate::View *view )
   TQWhatsThis::add( sb_numRecentFiles, numRecentFileHelpString );
   connect( sb_numRecentFiles, TQT_SIGNAL( valueChanged ( int ) ), this, TQT_SLOT( slotChanged() ) );
 
+  // Use only one instance of kate (MDI) ?
+  cb_useInstance = new TQCheckBox(bgStartup);
+  cb_useInstance->setText(i18n("Always use the current instance of kate to open new files"));
+  cb_useInstance->setChecked(parent->useInstance);
+  TQWhatsThis::add( cb_useInstance, i18n(
+        "When checked, all files opened from outside of Kate will only use the "
+        "currently opened instance of Kate.") );
+  connect( cb_useInstance, TQT_SIGNAL( toggled( bool ) ), this, TQT_SLOT( slotChanged() ) );
+
   // sync the konsole ?
   cb_syncKonsole = new TQCheckBox(bgStartup);
   cb_syncKonsole->setText(i18n("Sync &terminal emulator with active document"));
@@ -161,7 +170,7 @@ KateConfigDialog::KateConfigDialog ( KateMainWindow *parent, Kate::View *view )
            this, TQT_SLOT( slotChanged() ) );
 
   // GROUP with the one below: "Meta-informations"
-  bgStartup = new TQButtonGroup( 1, Qt::Horizontal, i18n("Meta-Information"), frGeneral );
+  bgStartup = new TQButtonGroup( 2, Qt::Horizontal, i18n("Meta-Information"), frGeneral );
   lo->addWidget( bgStartup );
 
   // save meta infos
@@ -409,6 +418,7 @@ void KateConfigDialog::slotApply()
     mainWindow->modNotification = cb_modNotifications->isChecked();
 
     mainWindow->syncKonsole = cb_syncKonsole->isChecked();
+    mainWindow->useInstance = cb_useInstance->isChecked();
     mainWindow->filelist->setSortType(cb_sortFiles->isChecked() ? KateFileList::sortByName : KateFileList::sortByID);
 
     config->writeEntry( "Number of recent files", sb_numRecentFiles->value() );
diff --git a/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.h b/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.h
index 8704753ab..5bbfc526d 100644
--- a/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.h
+++ b/kate/app/kateconfigdialog.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class KateConfigDialog : public KDialogBase
 
     TQCheckBox *cb_fullPath;
     TQCheckBox *cb_syncKonsole;
+    TQCheckBox *cb_useInstance;
     TQCheckBox *cb_sortFiles;
     TQSpinBox *sb_numRecentFiles;
     TQCheckBox *cb_modNotifications;
diff --git a/kate/app/katemain.cpp b/kate/app/katemain.cpp
index bc46d5402..7b9903d5e 100644
--- a/kate/app/katemain.cpp
+++ b/kate/app/katemain.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ static TDECmdLineOptions options[] =
     { "start <name>", I18N_NOOP("Start Kate with a given session"), 0 },
     { "u", 0, 0 },
     { "use", I18N_NOOP("Use a already running kate instance (if possible)"), 0 },
+    { "f", 0, 0 },
+    { "force-sdi", I18N_NOOP("Force single document mode if the MDI setting is enabled."), 0 },
     { "p", 0, 0 },
     { "pid <pid>", I18N_NOOP("Only try to reuse kate instance with this pid"), 0 },
     { "e", 0, 0 },
@@ -57,6 +59,8 @@ static TDECmdLineOptions options[] =
 
 extern "C" KDE_EXPORT int kdemain( int argc, char **argv )
 {
+  TDEConfig * config = NULL;
+  bool alwaysUseInstance;
   // here we go, construct the Kate version
   TQString kateVersion = KateApp::kateVersion();
 
@@ -98,6 +102,8 @@ extern "C" KDE_EXPORT int kdemain( int argc, char **argv )
 
   aboutData.setTranslator(I18N_NOOP2("NAME OF TRANSLATORS","Your names"), I18N_NOOP2("EMAIL OF TRANSLATORS","Your emails"));
 
+  TDEInstance instance( &aboutData );
+
   // command line args init and co
   TDECmdLineArgs::init (argc, argv, &aboutData);
   TDECmdLineArgs::addCmdLineOptions (options);
@@ -107,8 +113,13 @@ extern "C" KDE_EXPORT int kdemain( int argc, char **argv )
   // get our command line args ;)
   TDECmdLineArgs* args = TDECmdLineArgs::parsedArgs();
 
-  // now, first try to contact running kate instance if needed
-  if ( args->isSet("use") || (::getenv("KATE_PID")!=0) )
+  config = TDEGlobal::config();
+  config->setGroup("General");
+  alwaysUseInstance = config->readBoolEntry("UseInstance");
+
+// now, first try to contact running kate instance if needed
+  if ( ((args->isSet("use") || alwaysUseInstance) &&
+       !(args->isSet("force-sdi")))  || (::getenv("KATE_PID")!=0) )
   {
     DCOPClient client;
     client.attach ();
diff --git a/kate/app/katemainwindow.cpp b/kate/app/katemainwindow.cpp
index cf62e77f1..ada436a07 100644
--- a/kate/app/katemainwindow.cpp
+++ b/kate/app/katemainwindow.cpp
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ void KateMainWindow::readOptions ()
 
   config->setGroup("General");
   syncKonsole =  config->readBoolEntry("Sync Konsole", true);
+  useInstance =  config->readBoolEntry("UseInstance", false);
   modNotification = config->readBoolEntry("Modified Notification", false);
   KateDocManager::self()->setSaveMetaInfos(config->readBoolEntry("Save Meta Infos", true));
   KateDocManager::self()->setDaysMetaInfos(config->readNumEntry("Days Meta Infos", 30));
@@ -437,6 +438,8 @@ void KateMainWindow::saveOptions ()
 
   config->writeEntry("Sync Konsole", syncKonsole);
 
+  config->writeEntry("UseInstance", useInstance);
+
   fileOpenRecent->saveEntries(config, "Recent Files");
 
   fileselector->writeConfig(config, "fileselector");
diff --git a/kate/app/katemainwindow.h b/kate/app/katemainwindow.h
index 30582ed3e..eb2891819 100644
--- a/kate/app/katemainwindow.h
+++ b/kate/app/katemainwindow.h
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ class KateMainWindow : public KateMDI::MainWindow, virtual public KParts::PartBa
     Kate::ToolViewManager *m_toolViewManager;
 
     bool syncKonsole;
+    bool useInstance;
     bool modNotification;
 
     DCOPObject *m_dcop;