diff --git a/batctl/debug.c b/batctl/debug.c
index c57355a..fb9c74b 100644
--- a/batctl/debug.c
+++ b/batctl/debug.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ void originators_usage(void)
 	printf(" \t -h print this help\n");
 	printf(" \t -n don't replace mac addresses with bat-host names\n");
 	printf(" \t -w watch mode - refresh the originator table continuously\n");
+	printf(" \t -t timeout interval - don't print originators not seen for x.y seconds \n");
 }
 
 void trans_local_usage(void)
@@ -74,8 +75,9 @@ int handle_debug_table(int argc, char **argv, char *file_path, void table_usage(
 	int optchar, read_opt = USE_BAT_HOSTS;
 	char full_path[MAX_PATH+1];
 	char *debugfs_mnt;
+	float orig_timeout;
 
-	while ((optchar = getopt(argc, argv, "hnw")) != -1) {
+	while ((optchar = getopt(argc, argv, "hnwt:")) != -1) {
 		switch (optchar) {
 		case 'h':
 			table_usage();
@@ -86,6 +88,21 @@ int handle_debug_table(int argc, char **argv, char *file_path, void table_usage(
 		case 'w':
 			read_opt |= CLR_CONT_READ;
 			break;
+		case 't':
+			if (table_usage != originators_usage) {
+				table_usage();
+				return EXIT_FAILURE;
+			}
+
+			read_opt |= NO_OLD_ORIGS;
+			if (!sscanf(optarg, "%f", &orig_timeout)) {
+				printf("Error - provided argument of -t is not a number\n");
+				return EXIT_FAILURE;
+			}
+			break;
+		case '?':
+			if (optopt == 't' && table_usage == originators_usage)
+				return EXIT_FAILURE;
 		default:
 			table_usage();
 			return EXIT_FAILURE;
@@ -99,7 +116,7 @@ int handle_debug_table(int argc, char **argv, char *file_path, void table_usage(
 	}
 
 	debugfs_make_path(DEBUG_BATIF_PATH "/", full_path, sizeof(full_path));
-	return read_file(full_path, file_path, read_opt);
+	return read_file(full_path, file_path, read_opt, orig_timeout);
 }
 
 static void log_usage(void)
@@ -137,7 +154,7 @@ int log_print(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	debugfs_make_path(DEBUG_BATIF_PATH "/", full_path, sizeof(full_path));
-	res = read_file(full_path, DEBUG_LOG, read_opt);
+	res = read_file(full_path, DEBUG_LOG, read_opt, 0);
 
 	if ((res != EXIT_SUCCESS) && (errno == ENOENT))
 		printf("To read the debug log you need to compile the module with debugging enabled (see the README)\n");
diff --git a/batctl/functions.c b/batctl/functions.c
index 9b697b3..0aeb99a 100644
--- a/batctl/functions.c
+++ b/batctl/functions.c
@@ -117,11 +117,12 @@ static int check_sys_dir(char *dir)
 	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 }
 
-int read_file(char *dir, char *fname, int read_opt)
+int read_file(char *dir, char *fname, int read_opt, float orig_timeout)
 {
 	struct ether_addr *mac_addr;
 	struct bat_host *bat_host;
 	int res = EXIT_FAILURE;
+	float last_seen;
 	char full_path[500], *buff_ptr, *space_ptr, extra_char;
 	size_t len = 0;
 	ssize_t read;
@@ -157,6 +158,12 @@ read:
 		if (read_opt & USE_READ_BUFF)
 			break;
 
+		/* skip timed out originators */
+		if (read_opt & NO_OLD_ORIGS)
+			if (sscanf(line_ptr, "%*s %f", &last_seen)
+			    && (last_seen > orig_timeout))
+				continue;
+
 		if (!(read_opt & USE_BAT_HOSTS)) {
 			printf("%s", line_ptr);
 			continue;
diff --git a/batctl/functions.h b/batctl/functions.h
index 885df34..3fb8f35 100644
--- a/batctl/functions.h
+++ b/batctl/functions.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ double end_timer(void);
 char *ether_ntoa_long(const struct ether_addr *addr);
 char *get_name_by_macaddr(struct ether_addr *mac_addr, int read_opt);
 char *get_name_by_macstr(char *mac_str, int read_opt);
-int read_file(char *dir, char *path, int read_opt);
+int read_file(char *dir, char *path, int read_opt, float orig_timeout);
 int write_file(char *dir, char *fname, char *arg1, char *arg2);
 
 extern char *line_ptr;
@@ -46,4 +46,5 @@ enum {
 	LOG_MODE = 0x08,
 	USE_READ_BUFF = 0x10,
 	SILENCE_ERRORS = 0x20,
+	NO_OLD_ORIGS = 0x40,
 };
diff --git a/batctl/sys.c b/batctl/sys.c
index 321dfc9..7135841 100644
--- a/batctl/sys.c
+++ b/batctl/sys.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static int print_interfaces(void)
 
 	while ((iface_dir = readdir(iface_base_dir)) != NULL) {
 		snprintf(path_buff, PATH_BUFF_LEN, SYS_MESH_IFACE_FMT, iface_dir->d_name);
-		res = read_file("", path_buff, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF | SILENCE_ERRORS);
+		res = read_file("", path_buff, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF | SILENCE_ERRORS, 0);
 		if (res != EXIT_SUCCESS)
 			continue;
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ static int print_interfaces(void)
 		line_ptr = NULL;
 
 		snprintf(path_buff, PATH_BUFF_LEN, SYS_IFACE_STATUS_FMT, iface_dir->d_name);
-		res = read_file("", path_buff, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF | SILENCE_ERRORS);
+		res = read_file("", path_buff, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF | SILENCE_ERRORS, 0);
 		if (res != EXIT_SUCCESS) {
 			printf("<error reading status>\n");
 			continue;
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ int handle_loglevel(int argc, char **argv)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	res = read_file(SYS_BATIF_PATH, SYS_LOG_LEVEL, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF);
+	res = read_file(SYS_BATIF_PATH, SYS_LOG_LEVEL, SINGLE_READ | USE_READ_BUFF, 0);
 
 	if (res != EXIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto out;
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ int handle_sys_setting(int argc, char **argv,
 	}
 
 	if (argc == 1)
-		return read_file(SYS_BATIF_PATH, file_path, SINGLE_READ);
+		return read_file(SYS_BATIF_PATH, file_path, SINGLE_READ, 0);
 
 	if (!sysfs_param)
 		goto write_file;
