diff --git wp-admin/menu.php wp-admin/menu.php
index 64f8019..1eb27a9 100644
--- wp-admin/menu.php
+++ wp-admin/menu.php
@@ -69,10 +69,16 @@ $menu[15] = array( __('Links'), 'manage_links', 'link-manager.php', '', 'menu-to
 
 // Avoid the comment count query for users who cannot edit_posts.
 if ( current_user_can( 'edit_posts' ) ) {
-	$awaiting_mod = wp_count_comments();
-	$awaiting_mod = $awaiting_mod->moderated;
+
+	$count_string = '';
+	if ( ! apply_filters( 'disable_admin_menu_comment_count', false ) ) {
+		$awaiting_mod = wp_count_comments();
+		$awaiting_mod = $awaiting_mod->moderated;
+		$count_string = '<span class="awaiting-mod count-' . absint( $awaiting_mod ) . '"><span class="pending-count">' . number_format_i18n( $awaiting_mod ) . '</span></span>';
+	}
+
 	$menu[25] = array(
-		sprintf( __( 'Comments %s' ), '<span class="awaiting-mod count-' . absint( $awaiting_mod ) . '"><span class="pending-count">' . number_format_i18n( $awaiting_mod ) . '</span></span>' ),
+		sprintf( __( 'Comments %s' ), $count_string ),
 		'edit_posts',
 		'edit-comments.php',
 		'',