diff --git a/API.md b/API.md
index 5f35059f8..ecabf13ae 100644
--- a/API.md
+++ b/API.md
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
     - [`string.normalize([form])`](#stringnormalizeform)
     - [`string.lowercase()`](#stringlowercase)
     - [`string.uppercase()`](#stringuppercase)
-    - [`string.trim()`](#stringtrim)
+    - [`string.trim([enabled])`](#stringtrimenabled)
     - [`string.isoDate()`](#stringisodate)
   - [`alternatives` - inherits from `Any`](#alternatives---inherits-from-any)
     - [`alternatives.try(schemas)`](#alternativestryschemas)
@@ -2155,13 +2155,17 @@ will be forced to uppercase.
 const schema = Joi.string().uppercase();
 ```
 
-#### `string.trim()`
+#### `string.trim([enabled])`
 
 Requires the string value to contain no whitespace before or after. If the validation `convert` option is on (enabled by
 default), the string will be trimmed.
 
+Parameters are:
+- `enabled` - optional parameter defaulting to `true` which allows you to reset the behavior of trim by providing a falsy value.
+
 ```js
 const schema = Joi.string().trim();
+const schema = Joi.string().trim(false); // disable trim flag
 ```
 
 #### `string.isoDate()`
diff --git a/lib/types/string/index.js b/lib/types/string/index.js
index 94bbfc9d8..374a27d01 100755
--- a/lib/types/string/index.js
+++ b/lib/types/string/index.js
@@ -572,20 +572,30 @@ internals.String = class extends Any {
         return obj;
     }
 
-    trim() {
+    trim(enabled) {
 
-        const obj = this._test('trim', undefined, function (value, state, options) {
+        enabled = enabled === undefined ? true : enabled;
+        Hoek.assert(typeof enabled === 'boolean', 'option must be a boolean');
 
-            if (options.convert ||
-                value === value.trim()) {
+        let obj;
+        if (enabled) {
+            obj = this._test('trim', undefined, function (value, state, options) {
 
-                return value;
-            }
+                if (options.convert ||
+                    value === value.trim()) {
 
-            return this.createError('string.trim', { value }, state, options);
-        });
+                    return value;
+                }
+
+                return this.createError('string.trim', { value }, state, options);
+            });
+        }
+        else {
+            obj = this.clone();
+            obj._tests = obj._tests.filter((test) => test.name !== 'trim');
+        }
 
-        obj._flags.trim = true;
+        obj._flags.trim = enabled;
         return obj;
     }
 
diff --git a/test/types/string.js b/test/types/string.js
index 2da81f4b7..e5afcadcf 100644
--- a/test/types/string.js
+++ b/test/types/string.js
@@ -1531,6 +1531,27 @@ describe('string', () => {
             ], { convert: false });
         });
 
+        it('disable existing trim flag when passing enabled: false', () => {
+
+            const trimEnabledSchema = Joi.string().trim(true);
+            Helper.validateOptions(trimEnabledSchema, [
+                [' something', false, null, {
+                    message: '"value" must not have leading or trailing whitespace',
+                    details: [{
+                        message: '"value" must not have leading or trailing whitespace',
+                        path: [],
+                        type: 'string.trim',
+                        context: { value: ' something', label: 'value', key: undefined }
+                    }]
+                }]
+            ], { convert: false });
+
+            const trimDisabledSchema = trimEnabledSchema.trim(false);
+            Helper.validateOptions(trimDisabledSchema, [
+                [' something', true]
+            ], { convert: false });
+        });
+
         it('removes leading and trailing whitespace before validation', async () => {
 
             const schema = Joi.string().trim();
@@ -1654,6 +1675,14 @@ describe('string', () => {
                 ['ABC', true]
             ]);
         });
+
+        it('throws when option is not a boolean', () => {
+
+            expect(() => {
+
+                Joi.string().trim(42);
+            }).to.throw('option must be a boolean');
+        });
     });
 
     describe('replace()', () => {