diff --git a/doc/macro_reference.qbk b/doc/macro_reference.qbk
index 1ff43fba..d1b221bd 100644
--- a/doc/macro_reference.qbk
+++ b/doc/macro_reference.qbk
@@ -1664,6 +1664,15 @@ export/import of symbols from shared libraries.
 ['Deprecated. This macro is no longer necessary since BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT and BOOST_SYMBOL_IMPORT
 are now supplied. It is provided to support legacy code.]
 ]]
+[[`BOOST_DISABLE_EXPLICIT_SYMBOL_VISIBILITY`][
+Disables the effect of the BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT, BOOST_SYMBOL_IMPORT and BOOST_SYMBOL_VISIBLE macros, 
+in order to revert to the default compiler behaviour.
+Note that this option should never be used if Boost libraries are being linking against dynamically, 
+or if you are building a shared library that exposes Boost types in its public API. 
+It is however advisable when statically-linking against Boost to prevent Boost symbols from leaking from the binary: 
+for instance because you are building a plug-in for a software which may itself use Boost which could cause 
+ODR conflicts.
+]]
 ]
 
 Typical usage:
diff --git a/include/boost/config/detail/suffix.hpp b/include/boost/config/detail/suffix.hpp
index 13d4bb6a..07600802 100644
--- a/include/boost/config/detail/suffix.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/config/detail/suffix.hpp
@@ -47,6 +47,22 @@
 # define BOOST_SYMBOL_VISIBLE
 #endif
 
+//
+// disable explicitly enforced visibility
+//
+#if defined(BOOST_DISABLE_EXPLICIT_SYMBOL_VISIBILITY)
+
+#undef BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT
+#define BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT
+
+#undef BOOST_SYMBOL_IMPORT
+#define BOOST_SYMBOL_IMPORT
+
+#undef BOOST_SYMBOL_VISIBLE
+#define BOOST_SYMBOL_VISIBLE
+
+#endif
+
 //
 // look for long long by looking for the appropriate macros in <limits.h>.
 // Note that we use limits.h rather than climits for maximal portability,