diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
index 701c96d06..eb1dc9e55 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -316,12 +316,14 @@ void BitcoinGUI::createActions()
     aboutAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/about"), tr("&About Bitcoin Core"), this);
     aboutAction->setStatusTip(tr("Show information about Bitcoin Core"));
     aboutAction->setMenuRole(QAction::AboutRole);
+    aboutAction->setEnabled(false);
     aboutQtAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/about_qt"), tr("About &Qt"), this);
     aboutQtAction->setStatusTip(tr("Show information about Qt"));
     aboutQtAction->setMenuRole(QAction::AboutQtRole);
     optionsAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/options"), tr("&Options..."), this);
     optionsAction->setStatusTip(tr("Modify configuration options for Bitcoin Core"));
     optionsAction->setMenuRole(QAction::PreferencesRole);
+    optionsAction->setEnabled(false);
     toggleHideAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/about"), tr("&Show / Hide"), this);
     toggleHideAction->setStatusTip(tr("Show or hide the main Window"));
 
@@ -339,6 +341,8 @@ void BitcoinGUI::createActions()
 
     openRPCConsoleAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/debugwindow"), tr("&Debug window"), this);
     openRPCConsoleAction->setStatusTip(tr("Open debugging and diagnostic console"));
+    // initially disable the debug window menu item
+    openRPCConsoleAction->setEnabled(false);
 
     usedSendingAddressesAction = new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/address-book"), tr("&Sending addresses..."), this);
     usedSendingAddressesAction->setStatusTip(tr("Show the list of used sending addresses and labels"));
@@ -887,6 +891,14 @@ void BitcoinGUI::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event)
     QMainWindow::closeEvent(event);
 }
 
+void BitcoinGUI::showEvent(QShowEvent *event)
+{
+    // enable the debug window when the main window shows up
+    openRPCConsoleAction->setEnabled(true);
+    aboutAction->setEnabled(true);
+    optionsAction->setEnabled(true);
+}
+
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
 void BitcoinGUI::incomingTransaction(const QString& date, int unit, const CAmount& amount, const QString& type, const QString& address, const QString& label)
 {
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
index 871ca1ba3..ef8b8726f 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
 protected:
     void changeEvent(QEvent *e);
     void closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event);
+    void showEvent(QShowEvent *event);
     void dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent *event);
     void dropEvent(QDropEvent *event);
     bool eventFilter(QObject *object, QEvent *event);