Index: src/app/qgisapp.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/app/qgisapp.cpp	(revision 14443)
+++ src/app/qgisapp.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -4722,7 +4722,7 @@
 
   bool res = true;
 
-  if( !vlayer->isEditable() )
+  if( !vlayer->isEditable() && !vlayer->isReadOnly() )
   {
     vlayer->startEditing();
     if( !( vlayer->dataProvider()->capabilities() & QgsVectorDataProvider::EditingCapabilities ) )
@@ -5922,7 +5922,7 @@
       //start editing/stop editing
       if( dprovider->capabilities() & QgsVectorDataProvider::EditingCapabilities )
       {
-        mActionToggleEditing->setEnabled( true );
+        mActionToggleEditing->setEnabled( !vlayer->isReadOnly() );
         mActionToggleEditing->setChecked( vlayer->isEditable() );
         mActionSaveEdits->setEnabled( vlayer->isEditable() );
       }
Index: src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp	(revision 14443)
+++ src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@
     mDataProvider( NULL ),
     mProviderKey( providerKey ),
     mEditable( false ),
+    mReadOnly( false ),
     mModified( false ),
     mMaxUpdatedIndex( -1 ),
     mActiveCommand( NULL ),
@@ -2483,6 +2484,11 @@
     return false;
   }
 
+  if ( mReadOnly )
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   if ( mEditable )
   {
     // editing already underway
@@ -4204,6 +4210,21 @@
   return ( mEditable && mDataProvider );
 }
 
+bool QgsVectorLayer::isReadOnly() const
+{
+  return mReadOnly;
+}
+
+bool QgsVectorLayer::setReadOnly( bool readonly )
+{
+  // exit if the layer is in editing mode
+  if ( readonly && mEditable )
+    return false;
+
+  mReadOnly = readonly;
+  return true;
+}
+
 bool QgsVectorLayer::isModified() const
 {
   return mModified;
Index: src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h
===================================================================
--- src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h	(revision 14443)
+++ src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h	(working copy)
@@ -358,6 +358,9 @@
     /** Returns true if the provider is in editing mode */
     virtual bool isEditable() const;
 
+    /** Returns true if the provider is in read-only mode */
+    virtual bool isReadOnly() const;
+
     /** Returns true if the provider has been modified since the last commit */
     virtual bool isModified() const;
 
@@ -402,6 +405,11 @@
     /** returns feature count after commit */
     int pendingFeatureCount();
 
+    /** Make layer read-only (editing disabled) or not
+     *  @return false if the layer is in editing yet
+     */
+    bool setReadOnly( bool readonly = true );
+
     /** Sets whether some features are modified or not */
     void setModified( bool modified = true, bool onlyGeometryWasModified = false );
 
@@ -708,6 +716,9 @@
     /** Flag indicating whether the layer is in editing mode or not */
     bool mEditable;
 
+    /** Flag indicating whether the layer is in read-only mode (editing disabled) or not */
+    bool mReadOnly;
+
     /** Flag indicating whether the layer has been modified since the last commit */
     bool mModified;
 
Index: python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip
===================================================================
--- python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip	(revision 14443)
+++ python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip	(working copy)
@@ -313,6 +313,9 @@
   /** Returns true if the provider is in editing mode */
   virtual bool isEditable() const;
 
+  /** Returns true if the provider is in read-only mode */
+  virtual bool isReadOnly() const;
+
   /** Returns true if the provider has been modified since the last commit */
   virtual bool isModified() const;
 
@@ -353,6 +356,11 @@
 
   /** returns feature count after commit */
   int pendingFeatureCount();
+
+  /** Make layer read-only (editing disabled) or not
+   *  @return false if the layer is in editing yet
+   */
+  bool setReadOnly( bool readonly = true );
   
   /** Sets whether some features are modified or not */
   void setModified(bool modified = TRUE, bool onlyGeometryWasModified = FALSE);