diff --git a/resources/language/resource.language.en_gb/strings.po b/resources/language/resource.language.en_gb/strings.po
index fcc80e22..a094e90a 100644
--- a/resources/language/resource.language.en_gb/strings.po
+++ b/resources/language/resource.language.en_gb/strings.po
@@ -1078,6 +1078,11 @@ msgctxt "#39074"
 msgid "TV Shows"
 msgstr ""
 
+# PKC Settings - Sync
+msgctxt "#39075"
+msgid "Verify access to media files while synching"
+msgstr ""
+
 # Pop-up during initial sync
 msgctxt "#39076"
 msgid "If you use several Plex libraries of one kind, e.g. \"Kids Movies\" and \"Parents Movies\", be sure to check the Wiki: https://goo.gl/JFtQV9"
diff --git a/resources/lib/app/libsync.py b/resources/lib/app/libsync.py
index 397abe9c..5a0114ab 100644
--- a/resources/lib/app/libsync.py
+++ b/resources/lib/app/libsync.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ class Sync(object):
         self.run_lib_scan = None
         # Set if user decided to cancel sync
         self.stop_sync = False
+        # Do we check whether we can access a media file?
+        self.check_media_file_existence = False
         # Could we access the paths?
         self.path_verified = False
 
@@ -92,6 +94,8 @@ class Sync(object):
 
     def load(self):
         self.direct_paths = utils.settings('useDirectPaths') == '1'
+        self.check_media_file_existence = \
+            utils.settings('check_media_file_existence') == '1'
         self.enable_music = utils.settings('enableMusic') == 'true'
         self.artwork = utils.settings('usePlexArtwork') == 'true'
         self.replace_smb_path = utils.settings('replaceSMB') == 'true'
diff --git a/resources/lib/plex_api/media.py b/resources/lib/plex_api/media.py
index bfa47c08..6b3ff4fd 100644
--- a/resources/lib/plex_api/media.py
+++ b/resources/lib/plex_api/media.py
@@ -385,7 +385,9 @@ class Media(object):
                 path = 'smb:' + path.replace('\\', '/')
         if app.SYNC.escape_path:
             path = utils.escape_path(path, app.SYNC.escape_path_safe_chars)
-        if (app.SYNC.path_verified and not force_check) or omit_check:
+        if (not app.SYNC.check_media_file_existence
+                or (app.SYNC.path_verified and not force_check)
+                or omit_check):
             return path
 
         # exist() needs a / or \ at the end to work for directories
diff --git a/resources/settings.xml b/resources/settings.xml
index fda93768..f707d67d 100644
--- a/resources/settings.xml
+++ b/resources/settings.xml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
         <setting id="dbSyncScreensaver" type="bool" label="39062" default="false" /><!--Sync when screensaver is deactivated-->
         <setting id="dbSyncIndicator" label="30507" type="bool" default="true" /><!-- show syncing progress -->
         <setting id="playstate_sync_indicator" label="30523" type="bool" default="false" visible="eq(-1,true)" subsetting="true"/><!-- Also show sync progress for playstate and user data -->
+        <setting id="check_media_file_existence" type="bool" label="39075" default="true" /><!--Verify access to media files while synching -->
         <setting id="syncThreadNumber" type="slider" label="39003" default="10" option="int" range="1,1,30"/><!-- Number of simultaneous download threads -->
         <setting id="limitindex" type="slider" label="30515" default="200" option="int" range="50,50,1000"/><!-- Maximum items to request from the server at once -->
         <setting type="lsep" label="$LOCALIZE[136]" /><!-- Playlists -->