diff --git a/gdb/NEWS b/gdb/NEWS
index 754ce103bd..32229d3cea 100644
--- a/gdb/NEWS
+++ b/gdb/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 *** Changes since GDB 8.0
 
+* New "--readnever" command line option instructs GDB to not read each
+  symbol file's symbolic debug information.  This makes startup faster
+  but at the expense of not being able to perform symbolic debugging.
+
 * GDB now uses the GNU MPFR library, if available, to emulate target
   floating-point arithmetic during expression evaluation when the target
   uses different floating-point formats than the host.  At least version
diff --git a/gdb/dbxread.c b/gdb/dbxread.c
index 697aa6e8ed..74f0df1a58 100644
--- a/gdb/dbxread.c
+++ b/gdb/dbxread.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 #include "aout/aout64.h"
 #include "aout/stab_gnu.h"	/* We always use GNU stabs, not
 				   native, now.  */
+#include "top.h"
 
 
 /* Key for dbx-associated data.  */
@@ -3068,6 +3069,9 @@ coffstab_build_psymtabs (struct objfile *objfile,
 			 struct stab_section_list *stabsects,
 			 file_ptr stabstroffset, unsigned int stabstrsize)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return;
+
   int val;
   bfd *sym_bfd = objfile->obfd;
   char *name = bfd_get_filename (sym_bfd);
@@ -3152,6 +3156,9 @@ void
 elfstab_build_psymtabs (struct objfile *objfile, asection *stabsect,
 			file_ptr stabstroffset, unsigned int stabstrsize)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return;
+
   int val;
   bfd *sym_bfd = objfile->obfd;
   char *name = bfd_get_filename (sym_bfd);
@@ -3228,6 +3235,9 @@ void
 stabsect_build_psymtabs (struct objfile *objfile, char *stab_name,
 			 char *stabstr_name, char *text_name)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return;
+
   int val;
   bfd *sym_bfd = objfile->obfd;
   char *name = bfd_get_filename (sym_bfd);
diff --git a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
index 00451d243d..f3eef8dfeb 100644
--- a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
+++ b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
@@ -1037,6 +1037,15 @@ Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
 
+@item --readnever
+@cindex @code{--readnever}
+Do not read each symbol file's symbolic debug information.  This makes
+startup faster but at the expense of not being able to perform
+symbolic debugging.  DWARF unwind information is also not read,
+meaning backtraces may become incomplete or inaccurate.  One use of
+this is when a user simply wants to do the following sequence: attach,
+dump core, detach.  Loading the debugging information in this case is
+an unnecessary cause of delay.
 @end table
 
 @node Mode Options
@@ -18486,6 +18495,14 @@ tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
 entire symbol table available.
 
+@kindex readnever
+@cindex never read symbols
+@cindex symbols, never read
+@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnever @r{]} @var{filename}
+@itemx file @r{[} -readnever @r{]} @var{filename}
+You can instruct @value{GDBN} to never read the symbolic information
+contained in @var{filename} by using the @samp{-readnever} option.
+
 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
 @c flux.  13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
diff --git a/gdb/dwarf2read.c b/gdb/dwarf2read.c
index 334d8c2e05..0975d2bbe2 100644
--- a/gdb/dwarf2read.c
+++ b/gdb/dwarf2read.c
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 #include <unordered_set>
 #include <unordered_map>
 #include "selftest.h"
+#include "top.h"
 
 /* When == 1, print basic high level tracing messages.
    When > 1, be more verbose.
@@ -2319,6 +2320,9 @@ int
 dwarf2_has_info (struct objfile *objfile,
                  const struct dwarf2_debug_sections *names)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return 0;
+
   dwarf2_per_objfile = ((struct dwarf2_per_objfile *)
 			objfile_data (objfile, dwarf2_objfile_data_key));
   if (!dwarf2_per_objfile)
diff --git a/gdb/main.c b/gdb/main.c
index 61168faf50..2e23c1bf19 100644
--- a/gdb/main.c
+++ b/gdb/main.c
@@ -402,6 +402,19 @@ symbol_file_add_main_adapter (const char *arg, int from_tty)
   symbol_file_add_main (arg, add_flags);
 }
 
+/* Perform validation of the '--readnow' and '--readnever' flags.  */
+
+static void
+validate_readnow_readnever ()
+{
+  if (readnever_symbol_files && readnow_symbol_files)
+    {
+      error (_("%s: '--readnow' and '--readnever' cannot be "
+	       "specified simultaneously"),
+	     gdb_program_name);
+    }
+}
+
 /* Type of this option.  */
 enum cmdarg_kind
 {
@@ -579,14 +592,17 @@ captured_main_1 (struct captured_main_args *context)
       OPT_NOWINDOWS,
       OPT_WINDOWS,
       OPT_IX,
-      OPT_IEX
+      OPT_IEX,
+      OPT_READNOW,
+      OPT_READNEVER
     };
     static struct option long_options[] =
     {
       {"tui", no_argument, 0, OPT_TUI},
       {"dbx", no_argument, &dbx_commands, 1},
-      {"readnow", no_argument, &readnow_symbol_files, 1},
-      {"r", no_argument, &readnow_symbol_files, 1},
+      {"readnow", no_argument, NULL, OPT_READNOW},
+      {"readnever", no_argument, NULL, OPT_READNEVER},
+      {"r", no_argument, NULL, OPT_READNOW},
       {"quiet", no_argument, &quiet, 1},
       {"q", no_argument, &quiet, 1},
       {"silent", no_argument, &quiet, 1},
@@ -809,6 +825,20 @@ captured_main_1 (struct captured_main_args *context)
 	    }
 	    break;
 
+	  case OPT_READNOW:
+	    {
+	      readnow_symbol_files = 1;
+	      validate_readnow_readnever ();
+	    }
+	    break;
+
+	  case OPT_READNEVER:
+	    {
+	      readnever_symbol_files = 1;
+	      validate_readnow_readnever ();
+	    }
+	    break;
+
 	  case '?':
 	    error (_("Use `%s --help' for a complete list of options."),
 		   gdb_program_name);
@@ -1183,6 +1213,9 @@ Selection of debuggee and its files:\n\n\
   --se=FILE          Use FILE as symbol file and executable file.\n\
   --symbols=SYMFILE  Read symbols from SYMFILE.\n\
   --readnow          Fully read symbol files on first access.\n\
+  --readnever        Do not read symbol files.\n\
+                     There is currently a known limitation that this only\n\
+                     has an effect on symbol files provided in DWARF format.\n\
   --write            Set writing into executable and core files.\n\n\
 "), stream);
   fputs_unfiltered (_("\
diff --git a/gdb/mdebugread.c b/gdb/mdebugread.c
index debf46dc61..b3b8eb98cb 100644
--- a/gdb/mdebugread.c
+++ b/gdb/mdebugread.c
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 #include "aout/stab_gnu.h"	/* STABS information.  */
 
 #include "expression.h"
+#include "top.h"
 
 /* Provide a way to test if we have both ECOFF and ELF symbol tables.
    We use this define in order to know whether we should override a 
@@ -340,6 +341,9 @@ mdebug_build_psymtabs (minimal_symbol_reader &reader,
 		       const struct ecoff_debug_swap *swap,
 		       struct ecoff_debug_info *info)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return;
+
   cur_bfd = objfile->obfd;
   debug_swap = swap;
   debug_info = info;
@@ -4868,6 +4872,9 @@ void
 elfmdebug_build_psymtabs (struct objfile *objfile,
 			  const struct ecoff_debug_swap *swap, asection *sec)
 {
+  if (readnever_symbol_files || (objfile->flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    return;
+
   bfd *abfd = objfile->obfd;
   struct ecoff_debug_info *info;
 
diff --git a/gdb/objfile-flags.h b/gdb/objfile-flags.h
index 43ba8aaefd..f2a2ccfa8c 100644
--- a/gdb/objfile-flags.h
+++ b/gdb/objfile-flags.h
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ enum objfile_flag
        unrelated to filesystem names.  It can be for example
        "<image in memory>".  */
     OBJF_NOT_FILENAME = 1 << 6,
+
+    /* User requested that we do not read this objfile's symbolic
+       information.  */
+    OBJF_READNEVER = 1 << 7,
   };
 
 DEF_ENUM_FLAGS_TYPE (enum objfile_flag, objfile_flags);
diff --git a/gdb/symfile.c b/gdb/symfile.c
index feb50f8b79..4c0d207da6 100644
--- a/gdb/symfile.c
+++ b/gdb/symfile.c
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ static void clear_symtab_users_cleanup (void *ignore);
 
 /* Global variables owned by this file.  */
 int readnow_symbol_files;	/* Read full symbols immediately.  */
+int readnever_symbol_files;	/* Never read full symbols.  */
 
 /* Functions this file defines.  */
 
@@ -1131,6 +1132,11 @@ symbol_file_add_with_addrs (bfd *abfd, const char *name,
       flags |= OBJF_READNOW;
       add_flags &= ~SYMFILE_NO_READ;
     }
+  else if (readnever_symbol_files)
+    {
+      flags |= OBJF_READNEVER;
+      add_flags |= SYMFILE_NO_READ;
+    }
 
   /* Give user a chance to burp if we'd be
      interactively wiping out any existing symbols.  */
@@ -1594,6 +1600,16 @@ find_separate_debug_file_by_debuglink (struct objfile *objfile)
   return debugfile;
 }
 
+/* Make sure that OBJF_{READNOW,READNEVER} are not set
+   simultaneously.  */
+
+static void
+validate_readnow_readnever (objfile_flags flags)
+{
+  if ((flags & OBJF_READNOW) && (flags & OBJF_READNEVER))
+    error (_("-readnow and -readnever cannot be used simultaneously"));
+}
+
 /* This is the symbol-file command.  Read the file, analyze its
    symbols, and add a struct symtab to a symtab list.  The syntax of
    the command is rather bizarre:
@@ -1631,17 +1647,20 @@ symbol_file_command (const char *args, int from_tty)
 	{
 	  if (strcmp (arg, "-readnow") == 0)
 	    flags |= OBJF_READNOW;
+	  else if (strcmp (arg, "-readnever") == 0)
+	    flags |= OBJF_READNEVER;
 	  else if (*arg == '-')
 	    error (_("unknown option `%s'"), arg);
 	  else
-	    {
-	      symbol_file_add_main_1 (arg, add_flags, flags);
-	      name = arg;
-	    }
+	    name = arg;
 	}
 
       if (name == NULL)
 	error (_("no symbol file name was specified"));
+
+      validate_readnow_readnever (flags);
+
+      symbol_file_add_main_1 (name, add_flags, flags);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2238,6 +2257,8 @@ add_symbol_file_command (const char *args, int from_tty)
 	    }
 	  else if (strcmp (arg, "-readnow") == 0)
 	    flags |= OBJF_READNOW;
+	  else if (strcmp (arg, "-readnever") == 0)
+	    flags |= OBJF_READNEVER;
 	  else if (strcmp (arg, "-s") == 0)
 	    {
 	      expecting_sec_name = 1;
@@ -2245,10 +2266,12 @@ add_symbol_file_command (const char *args, int from_tty)
 	    }
 	  else
 	    error (_("USAGE: add-symbol-file <filename> <textaddress>"
-		     " [-readnow] [-s <secname> <addr>]*"));
+		     " [-readnow|-readnever] [-s <secname> <addr>]*"));
 	}
     }
 
+  validate_readnow_readnever (flags);
+
   /* This command takes at least two arguments.  The first one is a
      filename, and the second is the address where this file has been
      loaded.  Abort now if this address hasn't been provided by the
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.c b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7b2fe1cae4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.c
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/* Copyright 2016-2017 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+static void
+fun_three (int a, char b, void *c)
+{
+  /* Do nothing.  */
+}
+
+static void
+fun_two (unsigned int p, const char *y)
+{
+  fun_three ((int) p, '1', (void *) y);
+}
+
+static void
+fun_one (int *x)
+{
+  fun_two (10, (const char *) x);
+}
+
+int
+main (void)
+{
+  int a = 10;
+
+  fun_one (&a);
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.exp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6d48db9b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/readnever.exp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# Copyright 2016-2017 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+standard_testfile .c
+
+if { [build_executable "failed to build" $testfile $srcfile { debug }] == -1 } {
+    untested "Couldn't compile ${srcfile}"
+    return -1
+}
+
+save_vars { GDBFLAGS } {
+    append GDBFLAGS " --readnever"
+    clean_restart ${binfile}
+}
+
+if ![runto_main] then {
+    perror "couldn't run to breakpoint"
+    continue
+}
+
+gdb_test "break fun_three" \
+         "Breakpoint $decimal at $hex"
+
+gdb_test "continue" \
+         "Breakpoint $decimal, $hex in fun_three \\(\\)"
+
+gdb_test "backtrace" \
+         [multi_line "#0  $hex in fun_three \\(\\)" \
+                     "#1  $hex in fun_two \\(\\)" \
+                     "#2  $hex in fun_one \\(\\)" \
+                     "#3  $hex in main \\(\\)" ]
+
+gdb_test_no_output "maint info symtabs" \
+    "maint info symtabs no output for --readnever"
+gdb_test_no_output "maint info psymtabs" \
+    "maint info psymtabs no output for --readnever"
+
+# Test invalid combination of flags.
+save_vars { GDBFLAGS } {
+    append GDBFLAGS " --readnever --readnow"
+    gdb_exit
+    gdb_spawn_ignore_error
+
+    set test "test readnow and readnever at the same time"
+    gdb_test_multiple "" $test {
+	eof {
+	    pass $test
+	}
+    }
+}
+
+
+# Test symbol-file's -readnever option.
+
+# Restart GDB without the --readnever option.
+gdb_exit
+gdb_start
+gdb_test "symbol-file ${binfile}0.o -readnever" \
+    "Reading symbols from ${binfile}0\.o\.\.\.\\\(no debugging symbols found\\\)\.\.\.done\." \
+    "use symbol-file -readnever"
+
+gdb_test_no_output "maint info symtabs" \
+    "maint info symtabs no output for symbol-file -readnever"
+gdb_test_no_output "maint info psymtabs" \
+    "maint info psymtabs no output for symbol-file -readnever"
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
index 8d6972ab1f..6a6326344a 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
@@ -1580,7 +1580,7 @@ proc gdb_file_cmd { arg } {
 
 # Default gdb_spawn procedure.
 
-proc default_gdb_spawn { } {
+proc default_gdb_spawn { { ignore_error 0 } } {
     global use_gdb_stub
     global GDB
     global INTERNAL_GDBFLAGS GDBFLAGS
@@ -1610,11 +1610,12 @@ proc default_gdb_spawn { } {
 	}
     }
     set res [remote_spawn host "$GDB $INTERNAL_GDBFLAGS $GDBFLAGS [host_info gdb_opts]"]
-    if { $res < 0 || $res == "" } {
-	perror "Spawning $GDB failed."
-	return 1
+    if { !$ignore_error } {
+	if { $res < 0 || $res == "" } {
+	    perror "Spawning $GDB failed."
+	    return 1
+	}
     }
-
     set gdb_spawn_id $res
     return 0
 }
@@ -4077,6 +4078,13 @@ proc gdb_spawn { } {
     default_gdb_spawn
 }
 
+# Spawn the gdb process, but ignore errors.  This is useful if you
+# want GDB to fail, e.g. when testing invalid command line options.
+
+proc gdb_spawn_ignore_error { } {
+    default_gdb_spawn 1
+}
+
 # Spawn GDB with CMDLINE_FLAGS appended to the GDBFLAGS global.
 
 proc gdb_spawn_with_cmdline_opts { cmdline_flags } {
diff --git a/gdb/top.h b/gdb/top.h
index 26fe87842f..a1df64f383 100644
--- a/gdb/top.h
+++ b/gdb/top.h
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ extern int gdb_in_secondary_prompt_p (struct ui *ui);
 
 /* From random places.  */
 extern int readnow_symbol_files;
+extern int readnever_symbol_files;
 
 /* Perform _initialize initialization.  */
 extern void gdb_init (char *);
