diff --git a/modules/field/field.api.php b/modules/field/field.api.php
index cb55bba..7b03416 100644
--- a/modules/field/field.api.php
+++ b/modules/field/field.api.php
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
  *   - label: The human readable name of the component.
  *   - description: A short description of the component contents.
  *   - weight: The default weight of the element.
+ *   - visible: Optional, Defaults to TRUE. The default visibility of the
+ *     display component. Not used for form components.
  */
 function hook_field_extra_fields() {
   $extra['node']['poll'] = array(
diff --git a/modules/field/field.info.inc b/modules/field/field.info.inc
index e7eaaf0..f82ee77 100644
--- a/modules/field/field.info.inc
+++ b/modules/field/field.info.inc
@@ -427,11 +427,12 @@ function _field_info_prepare_extra_fields($extra_fields, $entity_type, $bundle)
       else {
         $field_data['display'][$view_mode] = array(
           'weight' => $field_data['weight'],
-          'visible' => TRUE,
+          'visible' => !isset($field_data['visible']) || $field_data['visible'],
         );
       }
     }
     unset($field_data['weight']);
+    unset($field_data['visible']);
     $result['display'][$name] = $field_data;
   }