diff --git a/bitcoin-qt.pro b/bitcoin-qt.pro
index 336b85cae0..05fb5545af 100644
--- a/bitcoin-qt.pro
+++ b/bitcoin-qt.pro
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ win32:!contains(MINGW_THREAD_BUGFIX, 0) {
 
 macx:HEADERS += src/qt/macdockiconhandler.h src/qt/macnotificationhandler.h
 macx:OBJECTIVE_SOURCES += src/qt/macdockiconhandler.mm src/qt/macnotificationhandler.mm
-macx:LIBS += -framework Foundation -framework ApplicationServices -framework AppKit
+macx:LIBS += -framework Foundation -framework ApplicationServices -framework AppKit -framework CoreServices
 macx:DEFINES += MAC_OSX MSG_NOSIGNAL=0
 macx:ICON = src/qt/res/icons/bitcoin.icns
 macx:QMAKE_CFLAGS_THREAD += -pthread
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 9bcac59798..73a5a12efa 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -215,9 +215,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     try
     {
+#ifndef Q_OS_MAC
         // Regenerate startup link, to fix links to old versions
+        // OSX: makes no sense on mac and might also scan/mount external (and sleeping) volumes (can take up some secs)
         if (GUIUtil::GetStartOnSystemStartup())
             GUIUtil::SetStartOnSystemStartup(true);
+#endif
 
         boost::thread_group threadGroup;
 
diff --git a/src/qt/guiutil.cpp b/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
index 6937febfee..88a6e7226e 100644
--- a/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
@@ -426,10 +426,61 @@ bool SetStartOnSystemStartup(bool fAutoStart)
     }
     return true;
 }
-#else
 
-// TODO: OSX startup stuff; see:
-// https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Articles/CustomLogin.html
+
+#elif defined(Q_OS_MAC)
+// based on: https://github.com/Mozketo/LaunchAtLoginController/blob/master/LaunchAtLoginController.m
+
+#include <CoreFoundation/CoreFoundation.h>
+#include <CoreServices/CoreServices.h>
+
+LSSharedFileListItemRef findStartupItemInList(LSSharedFileListRef list, CFURLRef findUrl);
+LSSharedFileListItemRef findStartupItemInList(LSSharedFileListRef list, CFURLRef findUrl)
+{
+    // loop through the list of startup items and try to find the bitcoin app
+    CFArrayRef listSnapshot = LSSharedFileListCopySnapshot(list, NULL);
+    for(int i = 0; i < CFArrayGetCount(listSnapshot); i++) {
+        LSSharedFileListItemRef item = (LSSharedFileListItemRef)CFArrayGetValueAtIndex(listSnapshot, i);
+        UInt32 resolutionFlags = kLSSharedFileListNoUserInteraction | kLSSharedFileListDoNotMountVolumes;
+        CFURLRef currentItemURL = NULL;
+        LSSharedFileListItemResolve(item, resolutionFlags, &currentItemURL, NULL);
+        if(currentItemURL && CFEqual(currentItemURL, findUrl)) {
+            // found
+            CFRelease(currentItemURL);
+            return item;
+        }
+        if(currentItemURL) {
+            CFRelease(currentItemURL);
+        }
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+bool GetStartOnSystemStartup()
+{
+    CFURLRef bitcoinAppUrl = CFBundleCopyBundleURL(CFBundleGetMainBundle());
+    LSSharedFileListRef loginItems = LSSharedFileListCreate(NULL, kLSSharedFileListSessionLoginItems, NULL);
+    LSSharedFileListItemRef foundItem = findStartupItemInList(loginItems, bitcoinAppUrl);
+    return !!foundItem; // return boolified object
+}
+
+bool SetStartOnSystemStartup(bool fAutoStart)
+{
+    CFURLRef bitcoinAppUrl = CFBundleCopyBundleURL(CFBundleGetMainBundle());
+    LSSharedFileListRef loginItems = LSSharedFileListCreate(NULL, kLSSharedFileListSessionLoginItems, NULL);
+    LSSharedFileListItemRef foundItem = findStartupItemInList(loginItems, bitcoinAppUrl);
+
+    if(fAutoStart && !foundItem) {
+        // add bitcoin app to startup item list
+        LSSharedFileListInsertItemURL(loginItems, kLSSharedFileListItemBeforeFirst, NULL, NULL, bitcoinAppUrl, NULL, NULL);
+    }
+    else if(!fAutoStart && foundItem) {
+        // remove item
+        LSSharedFileListItemRemove(loginItems, foundItem);
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+#else
 
 bool GetStartOnSystemStartup() { return false; }
 bool SetStartOnSystemStartup(bool fAutoStart) { return false; }
diff --git a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
index 4fa1f60922..b2451aea31 100644
--- a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ OptionsDialog::OptionsDialog(QWidget *parent) :
 
     /* Window elements init */
 #ifdef Q_OS_MAC
-    ui->tabWindow->setVisible(false);
+    /* remove Window tab on Mac */
+    ui->tabWidget->removeTab(ui->tabWidget->indexOf(ui->tabWindow));
 #endif
 
     /* Display elements init */