--- a/src/overview.cpp
+++ b/src/overview.cpp
@@ -1285,6 +1285,7 @@
   wf::wl_timer<false> clock_timer;
   wf::effect_hook_t pre_hook;
   bool hooks_active = false;
+  bool show_panel = false;
   int panel_height = 16, corner_radius = 12, spacing = 20, anim_duration = 300;
   std::string panel_color = "#1a1a1aE6";
   bool button_held = false;
@@ -1312,7 +1313,7 @@
   void init() override {
     panel = std::make_unique<top_panel_t>(output, panel_height, panel_color);
     activities = std::make_unique<activities_view_t>(output);
-    activities->set_config(corner_radius, spacing, panel_height, anim_duration);
+    activities->set_config(corner_radius, spacing, show_panel ? panel_height : 0, anim_duration);
     wf::gles::run_in_context([&] { progs.load(); });
     load_wallpaper();
 
@@ -1330,21 +1331,23 @@
       }
     };
 
-    clock_timer.set_timeout(60000, [this]() {
+    if (show_panel) clock_timer.set_timeout(60000, [this]() {
       panel->render(); panel->upload();
       if (panel_node) wf::scene::damage_node(panel_node, panel_node->get_bounding_box());
       return true;
     });
 
-    panel_node = std::make_shared<panel_node_t>(output, panel.get(), &progs, &activities->is_active);
-    wf::scene::add_front(wf::get_core().scene(), panel_node);
-    wf::scene::damage_node(panel_node, panel_node->get_bounding_box());
+    if (show_panel) {
+      panel_node = std::make_shared<panel_node_t>(output, panel.get(), &progs, &activities->is_active);
+      wf::scene::add_front(wf::get_core().scene(), panel_node);
+      wf::scene::damage_node(panel_node, panel_node->get_bounding_box());
+    }
   }
 
   void activate_hooks() {
     if (hooks_active) return;
     if (!render_node) {
-      render_node = std::make_shared<overview_node_t>(output, activities.get(), &progs, wallpaper_tex, panel.get());
+      render_node = std::make_shared<overview_node_t>(output, activities.get(), &progs, wallpaper_tex, show_panel ? panel.get() : nullptr);
       wf::scene::add_front(wf::get_core().scene(), render_node);
     }
     if (panel_node) {
@@ -1384,7 +1387,7 @@
 
   void handle_motion(wf::pointf_t cursor) {
     auto og = output->get_layout_geometry();
-    bool in_panel = cursor.y >= og.y && cursor.y < og.y + panel->height;
+    bool in_panel = show_panel && cursor.y >= og.y && cursor.y < og.y + panel->height;
     if (in_panel) {
       if (panel->set_hover(panel->point_in_activities(cursor)))
         wf::scene::damage_node(panel_node, panel_node->get_bounding_box());
@@ -1420,7 +1423,7 @@
   bool handle_button(uint32_t btn, uint32_t state, wf::pointf_t cursor) {
     if (btn != BTN_LEFT) return false;
     if (state == WL_POINTER_BUTTON_STATE_PRESSED) {
-      if (panel->point_in_activities(cursor)) { toggle(); return true; }
+      if (show_panel && panel->point_in_activities(cursor)) { toggle(); return true; }
       if (activities->is_active && !activities->is_animating) {
         button_held = true; press_pos = cursor; drag_started = false; return true;
       }
@@ -1451,6 +1454,7 @@
 // ============================================================================
 
 class wayfire_overview_t : public wf::plugin_interface_t {
+  wf::option_wrapper_t<bool> opt_show_panel{"overview/show_panel"};
   wf::option_wrapper_t<int> opt_panel_height{"overview/panel_height"};
   wf::option_wrapper_t<std::string> opt_panel_color{"overview/panel_color"};
   wf::option_wrapper_t<int> opt_corner_radius{"overview/corner_radius"};
@@ -1477,6 +1481,7 @@
   }
   void add_output(wf::output_t *out) {
     auto i = std::make_unique<overview_output_t>();
+    i->show_panel = opt_show_panel;
     i->panel_height = opt_panel_height; i->panel_color = (std::string)opt_panel_color;
     i->corner_radius = opt_corner_radius; i->anim_duration = opt_animation_duration;
     i->spacing = opt_spacing; i->output = out;
--- a/metadata/overview.xml
+++ b/metadata/overview.xml
@@ -11,12 +11,18 @@
             <option name="toggle" type="activator">
                 <_short>Toggle Overview</_short>
                 <_long>Key/button to toggle the Activities overview</_long>
-                <default>&lt;super&gt;</default>
+                <default>&lt;super&gt; &lt;ctrl&gt; KEY_O</default>
             </option>
         </group>
         
         <group>
             <_short>Panel</_short>
+
+            <option name="show_panel" type="bool">
+                <_short>Show built-in panel</_short>
+                <_long>Enable the Activities and clock panel. Leave disabled when using wf-shell.</_long>
+                <default>false</default>
+            </option>
             
             <option name="panel_height" type="int">
                 <_short>Panel Height</_short>
@@ -71,7 +77,7 @@
             <option name="wallpaper" type="string">
                 <_short>Wallpaper Path</_short>
                 <_long>Path to wallpaper image for overview background (PNG format)</_long>
-                <default>/home/light/Pictures/wallpapers/Dynamic-Wallpapers/Light/Beach_light.png</default>
+                <default></default>
             </option>
         </group>
     </plugin>