Index: /home/dnaber/workspace/JOSM/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java
===================================================================
--- /home/dnaber/workspace/JOSM/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java	(revision 639)
+++ /home/dnaber/workspace/JOSM/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 		//putValue("help", "Action/AddNode/Autnode");
 		selectedColor = Preferences.getPreferencesColor("selected", Color.YELLOW);
 		
-		drawHelperLine = Main.pref.getBoolean("draw.helper-line", true);
+		drawHelperLine = Main.pref.getBoolean("draw.helper-line", false);
 	}
 
 	private static Cursor getCursor() {
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@
 	 * mouseClicked() (FIXME).
 	 */
 	private void computeHelperLine() {
+		if (!drawHelperLine) return;
 		if (mousePos == null) {
 			// Don't draw the line.
 			currentMouseEastNorth = null;