diff --git a/wp-includes/template-loader.php b/wp-includes/template-loader.php
index fdf75f15ec..b7b12cd502 100644
--- a/wp-includes/template-loader.php
+++ b/wp-includes/template-loader.php
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@
 if ( defined('WP_USE_THEMES') && WP_USE_THEMES )
 	do_action('template_redirect');
 
+/**
+ * Halt template load for HEAD requests. Performance bump by eliminating output
+ *
+ * @since 3.5.0
+ */
+if ( 'HEAD' === $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] && apply_filters( 'exit_on_http_head', true ) )
+        exit();
+
 // Process feeds and trackbacks even if not using themes.
 if ( is_robots() ) :
 	do_action('do_robots');