diff --git a/examples/osgsimulation/osgsimulation.cpp b/examples/osgsimulation/osgsimulation.cpp
index 901dbe522..68e0deeed 100644
--- a/examples/osgsimulation/osgsimulation.cpp
+++ b/examples/osgsimulation/osgsimulation.cpp
@@ -250,6 +250,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             return 1;
         }
     }
+
+    bool useOverlay = true;
+    while (arguments.read("--no-overlay") || arguments.read("-n")) useOverlay = false;
     
     osgSim::OverlayNode::OverlayTechnique technique = osgSim::OverlayNode::OBJECT_DEPENDENT_WITH_ORTHOGRAPHIC_OVERLAY;
     while (arguments.read("--object")) technique = osgSim::OverlayNode::OBJECT_DEPENDENT_WITH_ORTHOGRAPHIC_OVERLAY;
@@ -257,6 +260,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     while (arguments.read("--persp") || arguments.read("--perspective")) technique = osgSim::OverlayNode::VIEW_DEPENDENT_WITH_PERSPECTIVE_OVERLAY;
     
 
+
     // if user request help write it out to cout.
     if (arguments.read("-h") || arguments.read("--help"))
     {
@@ -288,11 +292,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     if (csn)
     {
 
-        bool insertOverlayNode = true;
         osg::ref_ptr<osgSim::OverlayNode> overlayNode;
-        if (insertOverlayNode)
+        if (useOverlay)
         {
-        
             overlayNode = new osgSim::OverlayNode(technique);
             
             // insert the OverlayNode between the coordinate system node and its children.