diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
index 31b881f22db..9505487b02c 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@ class MetaSearchDialog(QDialog, BASE_CLASS):
         self.btnAddToWcs.clicked.connect(self.add_to_ows)
         self.btnShowXml.clicked.connect(self.show_xml)
 
+        # settings
+        self.radioTitleAsk.clicked.connect(self.set_ows_save_title_ask)
+        self.radioTitleNoAsk.clicked.connect(self.set_ows_save_title_no_ask)
+        self.radioTempName.clicked.connect(self.set_ows_save_temp_name)
+
         self.manageGui()
 
     def manageGui(self):
@@ -143,6 +148,16 @@ class MetaSearchDialog(QDialog, BASE_CLASS):
 
         self.reset_buttons()
 
+        # get preferred connection save strategy from settings and set it
+        save_strat = self.settings.value('/MetaSearch/ows_save_strategy',
+                                         'title_ask')
+        if save_strat == 'temp_name':
+            self.radioTempName.setChecked(True)
+        elif save_strat == 'title_no_ask':
+            self.radioTitleNoAsk.setChecked(True)
+        else:
+            self.radioTitleAsk.setChecked(True)
+
         # install proxy handler if specified in QGIS settings
         self.install_proxy()
 
@@ -685,14 +700,19 @@ class MetaSearchDialog(QDialog, BASE_CLASS):
             if key.startswith(sname):
                 conn_name_matches.append(key)
         if conn_name_matches:
-            sname = matches[-1]
+            sname = conn_name_matches[-1]
 
         # check for duplicates
-        if sname in keys:
-            msg = self.tr('Connection %s exists. Overwrite?') % sname
-            res = QMessageBox.warning(self, self.tr('Saving server'), msg,
-                                      QMessageBox.Yes | QMessageBox.No)
-            if res != QMessageBox.Yes:  # assign new name with serial
+        if sname in keys:  # duplicate found
+            if self.radioTitleAsk.isChecked():  # ask to overwrite
+                msg = self.tr('Connection %s exists. Overwrite?') % sname
+                res = QMessageBox.warning(self, self.tr('Saving server'), msg,
+                                          QMessageBox.Yes | QMessageBox.No)
+                if res != QMessageBox.Yes:  # assign new name with serial
+                    sname = serialize_string(sname)
+            elif self.radioTitleNoAsk.isChecked():  # don't ask to overwrite
+                pass
+            elif self.radioTempName.isChecked():  # use temp name
                 sname = serialize_string(sname)
 
         # no dups detected or overwrite is allowed
diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
index 6f9e469a08e..0816244bef1 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
    <item>
     <widget class="QTabWidget" name="tabWidget">
      <property name="currentIndex">
-      <number>0</number>
+      <number>2</number>
      </property>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="tabSearch">
       <attribute name="title">
@@ -428,12 +428,58 @@
       <attribute name="title">
        <string>Settings</string>
       </attribute>
-      <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_3">
+      <widget class="QGroupBox" name="saveStrategyGroup">
        <property name="geometry">
         <rect>
          <x>10</x>
          <y>10</y>
          <width>571</width>
+         <height>131</height>
+        </rect>
+       </property>
+       <property name="title">
+        <string>Connection naming</string>
+       </property>
+       <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_3">
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QLabel" name="lblSaveStrategy">
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>When saving the connection of an OWS service</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioTitleAsk">
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Ask before overwriting</string>
+          </property>
+          <property name="checked">
+           <bool>true</bool>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioTitleNoAsk">
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Always overwrite if already available</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioTempName">
+          <property name="text">
+           <string>Use a temporary name, which you can change later</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
+      </widget>
+      <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_3">
+       <property name="geometry">
+        <rect>
+         <x>10</x>
+         <y>230</y>
+         <width>571</width>
          <height>71</height>
         </rect>
        </property>
@@ -484,7 +530,7 @@
        <property name="geometry">
         <rect>
          <x>10</x>
-         <y>90</y>
+         <y>150</y>
          <width>571</width>
          <height>71</height>
         </rect>