diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 5b0838e5c0..f007465473 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ wxMSW:
 - Fix keyboard support in wxSpinCtrl broken in 2.8.8.
 - Compile fix for WinCE in window.cpp (no VkKeyScan in Windows CE).
 - Fix quoting of arguments passed to wxExecute(char **) (Brian Ravnsgaard Riis).
+- Support disabling items before adding them to the menu (Christian Walther).
 
 wxGTK:
 
diff --git a/src/msw/menu.cpp b/src/msw/menu.cpp
index 9005fb4514..3230373c9b 100644
--- a/src/msw/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/menu.cpp
@@ -354,7 +354,8 @@ bool wxMenu::DoInsertOrAppend(wxMenuItem *pItem, size_t pos)
     UpdateAccel(pItem);
 #endif // wxUSE_ACCEL
 
-    UINT flags = 0;
+    // we should support disabling the item even prior to adding it to the menu
+    UINT flags = pItem->IsEnabled() ? MF_ENABLED : MF_GRAYED;
 
     // if "Break" has just been called, insert a menu break before this item
     // (and don't forget to reset the flag)