diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Types.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
index 12b39a2c5..109c6af3c 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
@@ -332,6 +332,8 @@ data Reader = Reader {
      -- or error message.
     ,rParser   :: Maybe FilePath -> Bool -> FilePath -> Text -> ExceptT String IO Journal
 
+     -- Experimental readers are never tried automatically.
+    ,rExperimental :: Bool
     }
 
 instance Show Reader where show r = rFormat r ++ " reader"
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
index 60400d6bd..5a2588d5a 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ tests_readJournal' = [
 readJournal :: Maybe StorageFormat -> Maybe FilePath -> Bool -> Maybe FilePath -> Text -> IO (Either String Journal)
 readJournal mformat mrulesfile assrt mfile txt =
   let
-    rs = maybe readers (:[]) $ findReader mformat mfile
+    stablereaders = filter (not.rExperimental) readers
+    rs = maybe stablereaders (:[]) $ findReader mformat mfile
   in
     tryReaders rs mrulesfile assrt mfile txt
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
index 20e0e9abc..a774fe47e 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ reader = Reader
   {rFormat     = "csv"
   ,rExtensions = ["csv"]
   ,rParser     = parse
+  ,rExperimental = False
   }
 
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from CSV data, or give an error.
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
index bb63f54eb..19755012e 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ reader = Reader
   {rFormat     = "journal"
   ,rExtensions = ["journal", "j", "hledger", "ledger"]
   ,rParser     = parse
+  ,rExperimental = False
   }
 
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from hledger's journal file
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/LedgerReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/LedgerReader.hs
index 9b3e502dc..c5498a598 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/LedgerReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/LedgerReader.hs
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ reader = Reader
   {rFormat     = "ledger"
   ,rExtensions = []
   ,rParser     = parse
+  ,rExperimental = True
   }
 
 -- | Generate an action that parses and post-processes a "Journal" from a
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimeclockReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimeclockReader.hs
index 33ac8fe5b..2854491f5 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimeclockReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimeclockReader.hs
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ reader = Reader
   {rFormat     = "timeclock"
   ,rExtensions = ["timeclock"]
   ,rParser     = parse
+  ,rExperimental = False
   }
 
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from timeclock.el's timeclock
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimedotReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimedotReader.hs
index b23f4847f..6fcb0873f 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimedotReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/TimedotReader.hs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ reader = Reader
   {rFormat     = "timedot"
   ,rExtensions = ["timedot"]
   ,rParser     = parse
+  ,rExperimental = False
   }
 
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from the timedot format, or give an error.