diff --git a/sdrbase/mainparser.cpp b/sdrbase/mainparser.cpp
index ef3cf48b2..4f1a4bab6 100644
--- a/sdrbase/mainparser.cpp
+++ b/sdrbase/mainparser.cpp
@@ -34,11 +34,13 @@ MainParser::MainParser() :
     m_fftwfWisdomOption(QStringList() << "w" << "fftwf-wisdom",
         "FFTW Wisdom file.",
         "file",
-        "")
+        ""),
+    m_scratchOption("scratch", "Start from scratch (no current config).")
 {
+
     m_serverAddress = "";   // Bind to any address
     m_serverPort = 8091;
-    m_mimoSupport = false;
+    m_scratch = false;
     m_fftwfWindowFileName = "";
 
     m_parser.setApplicationDescription("Software Defined Radio application");
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ MainParser::MainParser() :
     m_parser.addOption(m_serverAddressOption);
     m_parser.addOption(m_serverPortOption);
     m_parser.addOption(m_fftwfWisdomOption);
+    m_parser.addOption(m_scratchOption);
 }
 
 MainParser::~MainParser()
@@ -94,18 +97,7 @@ void MainParser::parse(const QCoreApplication& app)
 
     m_fftwfWindowFileName = m_parser.value(m_fftwfWisdomOption);
 
-    // MIMO - from version
+    // Scratch mode
 
-    QStringList versionParts = app.applicationVersion().split(".");
-
-    if (versionParts.size() > 0)
-    {
-        bool ok;
-        int maj = versionParts.at(0).toInt(&ok);
-        m_mimoSupport = ok && (maj > 4);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        m_mimoSupport = false;
-    }
+    m_scratch = m_parser.isSet(m_scratchOption);
 }
diff --git a/sdrbase/mainparser.h b/sdrbase/mainparser.h
index 100752798..a04541909 100644
--- a/sdrbase/mainparser.h
+++ b/sdrbase/mainparser.h
@@ -34,19 +34,20 @@ public:
 
     const QString& getServerAddress() const { return m_serverAddress; }
     uint16_t getServerPort() const { return m_serverPort; }
-    bool getMIMOSupport() const { return m_mimoSupport; }
+    bool getScratch() const { return m_scratch; }
     const QString& getFFTWFWisdomFileName() const { return m_fftwfWindowFileName; }
 
 private:
     QString  m_serverAddress;
     uint16_t m_serverPort;
     QString  m_fftwfWindowFileName;
-    bool m_mimoSupport; //!< obtained from major version
+    bool m_scratch;
 
     QCommandLineParser m_parser;
     QCommandLineOption m_serverAddressOption;
     QCommandLineOption m_serverPortOption;
     QCommandLineOption m_fftwfWisdomOption;
+    QCommandLineOption m_scratchOption;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/sdrgui/mainwindow.cpp b/sdrgui/mainwindow.cpp
index 66aaaa4bd..a0bd76e24 100644
--- a/sdrgui/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/sdrgui/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -261,13 +261,21 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(qtwebapp::LoggerWithFile *logger, const MainParser& parse
 	// m_deviceUIs.back()->m_deviceAPI->setBuddyLeader(true); // the first device is always the leader
     tabChannelsIndexChanged(); // force channel selection list update
 
-    splash->showStatusMessage("load current configuration...", Qt::white);
-	qDebug() << "MainWindow::MainWindow: load current configuration...";
-
-	// loadDeviceSetPresetSettings(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingPreset(), 0);
 	m_apiAdapter = new WebAPIAdapter();
-    // loadFeatureSetPresetSettings(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingFeatureSetPreset(), 0);
-    loadConfiguration(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingConfiguration());
+
+    if (!parser.getScratch())
+    {
+        splash->showStatusMessage("load current configuration...", Qt::white);
+        qDebug() << "MainWindow::MainWindow: load current configuration...";
+
+        // loadDeviceSetPresetSettings(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingPreset(), 0);
+        // loadFeatureSetPresetSettings(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingFeatureSetPreset(), 0);
+        loadConfiguration(m_mainCore->m_settings.getWorkingConfiguration());
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        qDebug() << "MainWindow::MainWindow: scratch mode: do not load current configuration";
+    }
 
     // splash->showStatusMessage("update preset controls...", Qt::white);
 	// qDebug() << "MainWindow::MainWindow: update preset controls...";
@@ -304,7 +312,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(qtwebapp::LoggerWithFile *logger, const MainParser& parse
 	m_commandKeyReceiver->setRelease(true);
 	this->installEventFilter(m_commandKeyReceiver);
 
-    m_dspEngine->setMIMOSupport(parser.getMIMOSupport());
+    m_dspEngine->setMIMOSupport(true);
 
     // if (!parser.getMIMOSupport()) {
     //     ui->menu_Devices->removeAction(ui->action_sampleMIMOAdd);
diff --git a/sdrsrv/mainserver.cpp b/sdrsrv/mainserver.cpp
index 9547b88c1..5380041f0 100644
--- a/sdrsrv/mainserver.cpp
+++ b/sdrsrv/mainserver.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ MainServer::MainServer(qtwebapp::LoggerWithFile *logger, const MainParser& parse
     m_apiServer = new WebAPIServer(parser.getServerAddress(), parser.getServerPort(), m_requestMapper);
     m_apiServer->start();
 
-    m_dspEngine->setMIMOSupport(parser.getMIMOSupport());
+    m_dspEngine->setMIMOSupport(true);
 
     qDebug() << "MainServer::MainServer: end";
 }