diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index da23d0d..106ffc1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,25 +1,26 @@
-# Logs
-logs
-*.log
-
-# Runtime data
-pids
-*.pid
-*.seed
-
-# Directory for instrumented libs generated by jscoverage/JSCover
-lib-cov
-
-# Coverage directory used by tools like istanbul
-coverage
-
-# Grunt intermediate storage (http://gruntjs.com/creating-plugins#storing-task-files)
-.grunt
-
-# Compiled binary addons (http://nodejs.org/api/addons.html)
-build/Release
-
-# Dependency directory
-# Deployed apps should consider commenting this line out:
-# see https://npmjs.org/doc/faq.html#Should-I-check-my-node_modules-folder-into-git
-node_modules
+# Logs
+logs
+*.log
+
+# Runtime data
+pids
+*.pid
+*.seed
+
+# Directory for instrumented libs generated by jscoverage/JSCover
+lib-cov
+
+# Coverage directory used by tools like istanbul
+coverage
+
+# Grunt intermediate storage (http://gruntjs.com/creating-plugins#storing-task-files)
+.grunt
+
+# Compiled binary addons (http://nodejs.org/api/addons.html)
+build/Release
+
+# Dependency directory
+# Deployed apps should consider commenting this line out:
+# see https://npmjs.org/doc/faq.html#Should-I-check-my-node_modules-folder-into-git
+node_modules
+.idea/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 595fdd3..5d1b571 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ npm install hammer-touchemulator
 ```
 
 ## How to use
-Include the javascript file, and call the `Emulator()` function before any other libraries that do something with the 
+Include the javascript file, and call `TouchEmulator.start()` before any other libraries that do something with the 
 touch input. It will set some fake properties to spoof the touch detection of some libraries, and triggers `touchstart`, `touchmove` and `touchend` events on the mouse target.
  
 ````html
 <script src="touch-emulator.js"></script>
-<script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+<script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 ````
 
 ````js
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ document.body.addEventListener('touchend', log, false);
 
 Also, the script includes polyfills for `document.createTouch` and `document.createTouchList`.
 
+You can stop the touch emulator with `TouchEmulator.stop()` and restart it with another call to `TouchEmulator.start()`. 
+In previous versions, the emulator was started by calling `TouchEmulator()`; that continues to work, too.
+
 ## How it works
 It listens to the `mousedown`, `mousemove` and `mouseup` events, and translates them to touch events. If the mouseevent
 has the `shiftKey` property to `true`, it enables multi-touch. 
diff --git a/tests/manual/events-restarted.html b/tests/manual/events-restarted.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..397e9d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/manual/events-restarted.html
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head lang="en">
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title></title>
+
+    <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
+</head>
+<body>
+
+    <div id="hitarea" style="background: silver; height: 400px;">
+        Check the console. No mouse events should be fired, only touch events. Click events are allowed.
+    </div>
+
+    <script>
+
+        function log(ev) {
+            console.log(ev.type, ev);
+        }
+
+        var hitarea = document.getElementById('hitarea');
+
+        var events = ['touchstart','touchmove','touchend','touchcancel',
+                        'mousedown','mouseenter','mouseleave','mousemove',
+                        'mouseout','mouseover','mouseup','mousewheel',
+                        'click'];
+
+        for(var i=0; i<events.length; i++) {
+            hitarea.addEventListener(events[i], log, false);
+        }
+
+        TouchEmulator.stop();
+        TouchEmulator.start();
+    </script>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/tests/manual/events-stopped.html b/tests/manual/events-stopped.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11b8b46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/manual/events-stopped.html
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head lang="en">
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title></title>
+
+    <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
+</head>
+<body>
+
+    <div id="hitarea" style="background: silver; height: 400px;">
+            Check the console. No touch events should be fired, only mouse events. Click events are allowed, too.
+    </div>
+
+    <script>
+
+        function log(ev) {
+            console.log(ev.type, ev);
+        }
+
+        var hitarea = document.getElementById('hitarea');
+
+        var events = ['touchstart','touchmove','touchend','touchcancel',
+                        'mousedown','mouseenter','mouseleave','mousemove',
+                        'mouseout','mouseover','mouseup','mousewheel',
+                        'click'];
+
+        for(var i=0; i<events.length; i++) {
+            hitarea.addEventListener(events[i], log, false);
+        }
+
+        TouchEmulator.stop();
+    </script>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/tests/manual/events.html b/tests/manual/events.html
index a8ba17a..cf51970 100644
--- a/tests/manual/events.html
+++ b/tests/manual/events.html
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@
     <title></title>
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 </head>
 <body>
 
     <div id="hitarea" style="background: silver; height: 400px;">
-            Check the console. No mouseevents should be fired, only touchevents. Click events are allowed.
+            Check the console. No mouse events should be fired, only touch events. Click events are allowed.
     </div>
 
     <script>
diff --git a/tests/manual/googlemaps.html b/tests/manual/googlemaps.html
index affe2e0..12aab62 100644
--- a/tests/manual/googlemaps.html
+++ b/tests/manual/googlemaps.html
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
     <script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp"></script>
     <script>
diff --git a/tests/manual/hammer.html b/tests/manual/hammer.html
index 426abac..9ceb564 100644
--- a/tests/manual/hammer.html
+++ b/tests/manual/hammer.html
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     </style>
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 </head>
 <body>
 
diff --git a/tests/manual/img.html b/tests/manual/img.html
index f7b2bba..510a3a6 100644
--- a/tests/manual/img.html
+++ b/tests/manual/img.html
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <title></title>
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 </head>
 <body>
     no dragging of images;<br>
diff --git a/tests/manual/leaflet.html b/tests/manual/leaflet.html
index 9f4de80..5bccf35 100644
--- a/tests/manual/leaflet.html
+++ b/tests/manual/leaflet.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <title></title>
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.leafletjs.com/leaflet-0.7.3/leaflet.css" />
     <script src="http://cdn.leafletjs.com/leaflet-0.7.3/leaflet.js"></script>
diff --git a/tests/manual/modernizr.html b/tests/manual/modernizr.html
index 683566a..2826e07 100644
--- a/tests/manual/modernizr.html
+++ b/tests/manual/modernizr.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     <h1>Can we trick Modernizr?</h1>
 
     <script src="../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
     <script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/modernizr/2.8.2/modernizr.min.js"></script>
     <script>
diff --git a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/create-touch-touchlist.html b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/create-touch-touchlist.html
index eda9075..f704d2c 100644
--- a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/create-touch-touchlist.html
+++ b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/create-touch-touchlist.html
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
 
 <script src="../../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-<script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+<script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
 <script src="../resources/testharness.js"></script>
 <script src="../resources/testharnessreport.js"></script>
diff --git a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interactions-manual.html b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interactions-manual.html
index f339c53..b3377ec 100644
--- a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interactions-manual.html
+++ b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interactions-manual.html
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
 
 <script src="../../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-<script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+<script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
 <script src="../resources/testharness.js"></script>
 <script src="../resources/testharnessreport.js"></script>
diff --git a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interfaces-manual.html b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interfaces-manual.html
index da6f2ac..ec4f1dd 100644
--- a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interfaces-manual.html
+++ b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/multi-touch-interfaces-manual.html
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
 
 <script src="../../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-<script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+<script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
 <script src="../resources/testharness.js"></script>
 <script>
diff --git a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/single-touch-manual.html b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/single-touch-manual.html
index 8f3ab41..e207e1d 100644
--- a/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/single-touch-manual.html
+++ b/tests/web-platform-tests/touch-events/single-touch-manual.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
 
   <script src="../../../touch-emulator.js"></script>
-    <script> TouchEmulator(); </script>
+    <script> TouchEmulator.start(); </script>
 
   <script src="../resources/testharness.js"></script>
   <script>
diff --git a/touch-emulator.js b/touch-emulator.js
index 6d8b2dd..2bcda06 100644
--- a/touch-emulator.js
+++ b/touch-emulator.js
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 (function(window, document, exportName, undefined) {
     "use strict";
 
+    var isRunning = false;
     var isMultiTouch = false;
     var multiTouchStartPos;
     var eventTarget;
     var touchElements = {};
+    var fakedProps = [];
+    var handlers = [];
 
     // polyfills
     if(!document.createTouch) {
@@ -94,11 +97,23 @@
             for(var p=0; p<props.length; p++) {
                 if(objs[o] && objs[o][props[p]] == undefined) {
                     objs[o][props[p]] = null;
+                    fakedProps.push({prop: props[p], context: objs[o]});
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+      * revert to the state without fake touch support
+      */
+    function removeFakeTouchSupport() {
+        for(var i=0; i<fakedProps.length; i++) {
+            delete fakedProps[i].context[fakedProps[i].prop];
+        }
+
+        fakedProps = [];
+    }
+
     /**
      * we don't have to emulate on a touch device
      * @returns {boolean}
@@ -287,31 +302,64 @@
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * add an event handler and keep track of it
+     * @param {string}   event
+     * @param {Function} handler
+     */
+    function addHandler(event, handler) {
+        handlers.push({event: event, handler: handler});
+        window.addEventListener(event, handler, true);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * remove all event handlers which have been added by the emulator
+     */
+    function removeHandlers() {
+        for(var i=0; i<handlers.length; i++) {
+            window.removeEventListener(handlers[i].event, handlers[i].handler, true);
+        }
+
+        handlers = [];
+    }
+
     /**
      * TouchEmulator initializer
      */
     function TouchEmulator() {
-        if (hasTouchSupport()) {
+        TouchEmulator.start();
+    }
+
+    TouchEmulator.start = function () {
+        if (isRunning || hasTouchSupport()) {
             return;
         }
 
         fakeTouchSupport();
 
-        window.addEventListener("mousedown", onMouse('touchstart'), true);
-        window.addEventListener("mousemove", onMouse('touchmove'), true);
-        window.addEventListener("mouseup", onMouse('touchend'), true);
+        addHandler("mousedown", onMouse('touchstart'));
+        addHandler("mousemove", onMouse('touchmove'));
+        addHandler("mouseup", onMouse('touchend'));
 
-        window.addEventListener("mouseenter", preventMouseEvents, true);
-        window.addEventListener("mouseleave", preventMouseEvents, true);
-        window.addEventListener("mouseout", preventMouseEvents, true);
-        window.addEventListener("mouseover", preventMouseEvents, true);
+        addHandler("mouseenter", preventMouseEvents);
+        addHandler("mouseleave", preventMouseEvents);
+        addHandler("mouseout", preventMouseEvents);
+        addHandler("mouseover", preventMouseEvents);
 
         // it uses itself!
-        window.addEventListener("touchstart", showTouches, true);
-        window.addEventListener("touchmove", showTouches, true);
-        window.addEventListener("touchend", showTouches, true);
-        window.addEventListener("touchcancel", showTouches, true);
-    }
+        addHandler("touchstart", showTouches);
+        addHandler("touchmove", showTouches);
+        addHandler("touchend", showTouches);
+        addHandler("touchcancel", showTouches);
+
+        isRunning = true;
+    };
+
+    TouchEmulator.stop = function () {
+        removeFakeTouchSupport();
+        removeHandlers();
+        isRunning = false;
+    };
 
     // start distance when entering the multitouch mode
     TouchEmulator.multiTouchOffset = 75;
