diff --git a/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader.gd b/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader.gd
index 1f668564..94649097 100644
--- a/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader.gd
+++ b/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader.gd
@@ -232,17 +232,16 @@ func _check_autoload_positions() -> void:
 func _load_mod_zips() -> Dictionary:
 	var zip_data := {}
 
-	if not ModLoaderStore.ml_options.steam_workshop_enabled:
-		var mods_folder_path := _ModLoaderPath.get_path_to_mods()
-
-		# If we're not using Steam workshop, just loop over the mod ZIPs.
-		var loaded_zip_data := _ModLoaderFile.load_zips_in_folder(mods_folder_path)
-		zip_data.merge(loaded_zip_data)
-	else:
+	if ModLoaderStore.ml_options.steam_workshop_enabled:
 		# If we're using Steam workshop, loop over the workshop item directories
 		var loaded_workshop_zip_data := _ModLoaderSteam.load_steam_workshop_zips()
 		zip_data.merge(loaded_workshop_zip_data)
 
+	if ModLoaderStore.ml_options.load_from_local:
+		var mods_folder_path := _ModLoaderPath.get_path_to_mods()
+		var loaded_zip_data := _ModLoaderFile.load_zips_in_folder(mods_folder_path)
+		zip_data.merge(loaded_zip_data)
+
 	return zip_data
 
 
diff --git a/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader_store.gd b/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader_store.gd
index e451eef8..cea84f0a 100644
--- a/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader_store.gd
+++ b/addons/mod_loader/mod_loader_store.gd
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ var ml_options := {
 	# instead of the default location (res://mods)
 	steam_workshop_enabled = false,
 
+	# Indicates whether to load mods from the "mods" folder located at the game's install directory, or the overridden mods path.
+	load_from_local = true,
+
 	# Overrides for the path mods/configs/workshop folders are loaded from.
 	# Only applied if custom settings are provided, either via the options.tres
 	# resource, or via CLI args. Note that CLI args can be tested in the editor
diff --git a/addons/mod_loader/resources/options_profile.gd b/addons/mod_loader/resources/options_profile.gd
index 39efbdbe..17ea40c3 100644
--- a/addons/mod_loader/resources/options_profile.gd
+++ b/addons/mod_loader/resources/options_profile.gd
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 class_name ModLoaderOptionsProfile
 extends Resource
 
-# export (String) var my_string := ""
-# export (Resource) var upgrade_to_process_icon = null
-# export (Array, Resource) var elites: = []
 
 export (bool) var enable_mods = true
 export (Array, String) var locked_mods = []
@@ -11,6 +8,7 @@ export (ModLoaderLog.VERBOSITY_LEVEL) var log_level := ModLoaderLog.VERBOSITY_LE
 export (Array, String) var disabled_mods = []
 export (bool) var allow_modloader_autoloads_anywhere = false
 export (bool) var steam_workshop_enabled = false
+export (bool) var load_from_local = true
 export (String, DIR) var override_path_to_mods = ""
 export (String, DIR) var override_path_to_configs = ""
 export (String, DIR) var override_path_to_workshop = ""