diff --git a/docs/source/settings.rst b/docs/source/settings.rst
index e1e91fa76..824b42fee 100644
--- a/docs/source/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/source/settings.rst
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ The default behavior is to attempt inotify with a fallback to file
 system polling. Generally, inotify should be preferred if available
 because it consumes less system resources.
 
+.. note::
+   If the application fails to load while this option is used,
+   the (potentially sensitive!) traceback will be shared in
+   the response to subsequent HTTP requests.
 .. note::
    In order to use the inotify reloader, you must have the ``inotify``
    package installed.
@@ -114,10 +118,13 @@ Valid engines are:
 
 **Default:** ``[]``
 
-Extends :ref:`reload` option to also watch and reload on additional files
+Alternative or extension to :ref:`reload` option to (also) watch
+and reload on additional files
 (e.g., templates, configurations, specifications, etc.).
 
 .. versionadded:: 19.8
+.. versionchanged:: 23.FIXME
+    Option no longer silently ignored if used without :ref:`reload`.
 
 .. _spew:
 
diff --git a/gunicorn/config.py b/gunicorn/config.py
index 402a26b68..e37238d81 100644
--- a/gunicorn/config.py
+++ b/gunicorn/config.py
@@ -921,6 +921,10 @@ class Reload(Setting):
         system polling. Generally, inotify should be preferred if available
         because it consumes less system resources.
 
+        .. note::
+           If the application fails to load while this option is used,
+           the (potentially sensitive!) traceback will be shared in
+           the response to subsequent HTTP requests.
         .. note::
            In order to use the inotify reloader, you must have the ``inotify``
            package installed.
@@ -956,10 +960,13 @@ class ReloadExtraFiles(Setting):
     validator = validate_list_of_existing_files
     default = []
     desc = """\
-        Extends :ref:`reload` option to also watch and reload on additional files
+        Alternative or extension to :ref:`reload` option to (also) watch
+        and reload on additional files
         (e.g., templates, configurations, specifications, etc.).
 
         .. versionadded:: 19.8
+        .. versionchanged:: 23.FIXME
+            Option no longer silently ignored if used without :ref:`reload`.
         """
 
 
diff --git a/gunicorn/reloader.py b/gunicorn/reloader.py
index 1c67f2a7d..51fd15c88 100644
--- a/gunicorn/reloader.py
+++ b/gunicorn/reloader.py
@@ -14,17 +14,21 @@
 
 
 class Reloader(threading.Thread):
-    def __init__(self, extra_files=None, interval=1, callback=None):
+    def __init__(self, extra_files=None, interval=1, callback=None, auto_detect=False):
         super().__init__()
         self.daemon = True
         self._extra_files = set(extra_files or ())
         self._interval = interval
         self._callback = callback
+        self._auto_detect = auto_detect
 
     def add_extra_file(self, filename):
         self._extra_files.add(filename)
 
     def get_files(self):
+        if not self._auto_detect:
+            return self._extra_files
+
         fnames = [
             COMPILED_EXT_RE.sub('py', module.__file__)
             for module in tuple(sys.modules.values())
@@ -71,12 +75,13 @@ class InotifyReloader(threading.Thread):
                       | inotify.constants.IN_MOVE_SELF | inotify.constants.IN_MOVED_FROM
                       | inotify.constants.IN_MOVED_TO)
 
-        def __init__(self, extra_files=None, callback=None):
+        def __init__(self, extra_files=None, callback=None, auto_detect=False):
             super().__init__()
             self.daemon = True
             self._callback = callback
             self._dirs = set()
             self._watcher = Inotify()
+            self._auto_detect = auto_detect
 
             for extra_file in extra_files:
                 self.add_extra_file(extra_file)
@@ -91,6 +96,9 @@ def add_extra_file(self, filename):
             self._dirs.add(dirname)
 
         def get_dirs(self):
+            if not self._auto_detect:
+                return set()
+
             fnames = [
                 os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(COMPILED_EXT_RE.sub('py', module.__file__)))
                 for module in tuple(sys.modules.values())
@@ -100,6 +108,7 @@ def get_dirs(self):
             return set(fnames)
 
         def run(self):
+            # FIXME: _watchers/_dirs inconsistent - latter gets reset
             self._dirs = self.get_dirs()
 
             for dirname in self._dirs:
@@ -117,7 +126,7 @@ def run(self):
 else:
 
     class InotifyReloader:
-        def __init__(self, extra_files=None, callback=None):
+        def __init__(self, extra_files=None, callback=None, auto_detect=False):
             raise ImportError('You must have the inotify module installed to '
                               'use the inotify reloader')
 
diff --git a/gunicorn/workers/base.py b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
index 93c465c98..8869472dc 100644
--- a/gunicorn/workers/base.py
+++ b/gunicorn/workers/base.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def init_process(self):
         self.init_signals()
 
         # start the reloader
-        if self.cfg.reload:
+        if self.cfg.reload or self.cfg.reload_extra_files:
             def changed(fname):
                 self.log.info("Worker reloading: %s modified", fname)
                 self.alive = False
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def changed(fname):
 
             reloader_cls = reloader_engines[self.cfg.reload_engine]
             self.reloader = reloader_cls(extra_files=self.cfg.reload_extra_files,
-                                         callback=changed)
+                                         callback=changed, auto_detect=self.cfg.reload)
 
         self.load_wsgi()
         if self.reloader: