diff --git a/js/notice_manager_panel.js b/js/notice_manager_panel.js
index b08cb50..d2eee9d 100644
--- a/js/notice_manager_panel.js
+++ b/js/notice_manager_panel.js
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ var NoticeManager = (function ($, document) {
 		/**
 		 * auto-open notices panel
 		 */
-		if (button.length) {
+		if (button.length && ! options.distraction_free) {
 			panel.toggle()
 			button.addClass("screen-meta-active")
 			screenMeta.open(panel, button)
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ var NoticeManager = (function ($, document) {
 		 * only auto-close if we have collected notices previously
 		 * only auto-close if no error messages
 		 */
-		if (options.auto_collapse) {
+		if (options.auto_collapse && ! options.distraction_free) {
 			wait(4000).then(() => {
 				if (haveClosed && NoticeManager.getNoticesTopPriority() != 'error') {
 					screenMeta.close(panel, button)
@@ -129,6 +129,11 @@ var NoticeManager = (function ($, document) {
 				}
 			})
 		}
+
+		if (options.distraction_free) {
+			NoticeManager.addCounterWhenClosed()
+		}
+
 	}) // end document.on.ready
 
 	// prevent jumpy scrollRestoration on reload page
@@ -158,6 +163,19 @@ var NoticeManager = (function ($, document) {
 			return 'notice'
 		},
 
+		/**
+		 * .filter(":visible") unreliable when closed
+		 * 
+		 * @returns {string} top priority
+		 */
+		getNoticesTopPriorityWhenClosed: () => {
+			if (notices.filter(selectors_error.join(", ")).length)
+				return 'error'
+			if (notices.filter(selectors_warning.join(", ")).length)
+				return 'warning'
+			return 'notice'
+		},
+
 		/**
 		 * Collect notices into panel.
 		 * Remove dismiss-notices button.
@@ -194,6 +212,19 @@ var NoticeManager = (function ($, document) {
 			}
 		},
 
+		/**
+		 * cannot rely on filter(:visible)
+		 */
+		addCounterWhenClosed: () => {
+			if (!button.children('.plugin-count').length){
+				button.append(
+					$("<span/>").text(notices.length).attr({
+						class: "plugin-count",
+					}).addClass(NoticeManager.getNoticesTopPriorityWhenClosed())
+				)
+			}
+		},
+
 		removeCounter: () => {
 			button.children(".plugin-count").remove()
 		},
diff --git a/notice-manager.php b/notice-manager.php
index 763e178..4171bc7 100644
--- a/notice-manager.php
+++ b/notice-manager.php
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ new PluginCore(
 								'type' => 'checkbox',
 								'description' => 'If auto-collect is enabled - Notices panel will stay open for a few seconds on page load, and then close automatically. Panel will not auto-collapse if it contains `error` level notices.',
 							],
+							[
+								'id' => 'distraction_free',
+								'title' => 'Distraction Free',
+								'type' => 'checkbox',
+								'description' => 'Notice Panel is closed on page load. Requires auto_collect.'
+							],
 						]
 					]
 				]