diff --git a/components/autocomplete/README.md b/components/autocomplete/README.md
index e71da089c79090..102f88d4532501 100644
--- a/components/autocomplete/README.md
+++ b/components/autocomplete/README.md
@@ -59,7 +59,14 @@ A function that returns the label for a given option. A label may be a string or
 A function that returns the keywords for the specified option.
 
 - Type: `Function`
-- Required: Yes
+- Required: No
+
+#### isOptionDisabled
+
+A function that returns whether or not the specified option should be disabled. Disabled options cannot be selected.
+
+- Type: `Function`
+- Required: No
 
 #### getOptionCompletion
 
@@ -120,6 +127,8 @@ const fruitCompleter = {
 	],
 	// Declares that options should be matched by their name
 	getOptionKeywords: option => [ option.name ],
+	// Declares that the Grapes option is disabled
+	isOptionDisabled: option => option.name === 'Grapes',
 	// Declares completions should be inserted as abbreviations
 	getOptionCompletion: option => (
 		<abbr title={ option.name }>{ option.visual }</abbr>
diff --git a/components/autocomplete/index.js b/components/autocomplete/index.js
index e4c8e8039dd80b..feda61c9882aeb 100644
--- a/components/autocomplete/index.js
+++ b/components/autocomplete/index.js
@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ const { ENTER, ESCAPE, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SPACE } = keycodes;
  * @returns {string[]} list of key words to search.
  */
 
+/**
+ * @callback FnIsOptionDisabled
+ * @param {CompleterOption} option a completer option.
+ *
+ * @returns {string[]} whether or not the given option is disabled.
+ */
+
 /**
  * @callback FnGetOptionLabel
  * @param {CompleterOption} option a completer option.
@@ -92,6 +99,7 @@ const { ENTER, ESCAPE, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SPACE } = keycodes;
  * @property {String} triggerPrefix the prefix that will display the menu.
  * @property {(CompleterOption[]|FnGetOptions)} options the completer options or a function to get them.
  * @property {?FnGetOptionKeywords} getOptionKeywords get the keywords for a given option.
+ * @property {?FnIsOptionDisabled} isOptionDisabled get whether or not the given option is disabled.
  * @property {FnGetOptionLabel} getOptionLabel get the label for a given option.
  * @property {?FnAllowNode} allowNode filter the allowed text nodes in the autocomplete.
  * @property {?FnAllowContext} allowContext filter the context under which the autocomplete activates.
@@ -242,6 +250,10 @@ export class Autocomplete extends Component {
 		const { open, range, query } = this.state;
 		const { getOptionCompletion } = open || {};
 
+		if ( option.isDisabled ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		this.reset();
 
 		if ( getOptionCompletion ) {
@@ -345,6 +357,7 @@ export class Autocomplete extends Component {
 				value: optionData,
 				label: completer.getOptionLabel( optionData ),
 				keywords: completer.getOptionKeywords ? completer.getOptionKeywords( optionData ) : [],
+				isDisabled: completer.isOptionDisabled ? completer.isOptionDisabled( optionData ) : false,
 			} ) );
 
 			const filteredOptions = filterOptions( this.state.search, keyedOptions );
@@ -604,6 +617,7 @@ export class Autocomplete extends Component {
 									id={ `components-autocomplete-item-${ instanceId }-${ option.key }` }
 									role="option"
 									aria-selected={ index === selectedIndex }
+									disabled={ option.isDisabled }
 									className={ classnames( 'components-autocomplete__result', className, {
 										'is-selected': index === selectedIndex,
 									} ) }
diff --git a/components/autocomplete/test/index.js b/components/autocomplete/test/index.js
index a693dacfb1dd11..7b5f047d723970 100644
--- a/components/autocomplete/test/index.js
+++ b/components/autocomplete/test/index.js
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ describe( 'Autocomplete', () => {
 		options,
 		getOptionLabel: ( option ) => option.label,
 		getOptionKeywords: ( option ) => option.keywords,
+		isOptionDisabled: ( option ) => option.isDisabled,
 	};
 
 	const slashCompleter = {
@@ -435,6 +436,43 @@ describe( 'Autocomplete', () => {
 			} );
 		} );
 
+		it( 'set the disabled attribute on results', ( done ) => {
+			const wrapper = makeAutocompleter( [
+				{
+					...slashCompleter,
+					options: [
+						{
+							id: 1,
+							label: 'Bananas',
+							keywords: [ 'fruit' ],
+							isDisabled: true,
+						},
+						{
+							id: 2,
+							label: 'Apple',
+							keywords: [ 'fruit' ],
+							isDisabled: false,
+						},
+					],
+				},
+			] );
+			expectInitialState( wrapper );
+			// simulate typing '/'
+			simulateInput( wrapper, [ par( tx( '/' ) ) ] );
+			// wait for async popover display
+			process.nextTick( () => {
+				wrapper.update();
+
+				const firstItem = wrapper.find( 'button.components-autocomplete__result' ).at( 0 ).getDOMNode();
+				expect( firstItem.hasAttribute( 'disabled' ) ).toBe( true );
+
+				const secondItem = wrapper.find( 'button.components-autocomplete__result' ).at( 1 ).getDOMNode();
+				expect( secondItem.hasAttribute( 'disabled' ) ).toBe( false );
+
+				done();
+			} );
+		} );
+
 		it( 'navigates options by arrow keys', ( done ) => {
 			const wrapper = makeAutocompleter( [ slashCompleter ] );
 			// listen to keydown events on the editor to see if it gets them
@@ -591,6 +629,58 @@ describe( 'Autocomplete', () => {
 			} );
 		} );
 
+		it( 'does not select when option is disabled', ( done ) => {
+			const getOptionCompletion = jest.fn();
+			const testOptions = [
+				{
+					id: 1,
+					label: 'Bananas',
+					keywords: [ 'fruit' ],
+					isDisabled: true,
+				},
+				{
+					id: 2,
+					label: 'Apple',
+					keywords: [ 'fruit' ],
+					isDisabled: false,
+				},
+			];
+			const wrapper = makeAutocompleter( [ { ...slashCompleter, getOptionCompletion, options: testOptions } ] );
+			// listen to keydown events on the editor to see if it gets them
+			const editorKeydown = jest.fn();
+			const fakeEditor = wrapper.getDOMNode().querySelector( '.fake-editor' );
+			fakeEditor.addEventListener( 'keydown', editorKeydown, false );
+			expectInitialState( wrapper );
+			// the menu is not open so press enter and see if the editor gets it
+			expect( editorKeydown ).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			simulateKeydown( wrapper, ENTER );
+			expect( editorKeydown ).toHaveBeenCalledTimes( 1 );
+			// clear the call count
+			editorKeydown.mockClear();
+			// simulate typing '/'
+			simulateInput( wrapper, [ par( tx( '/' ) ) ] );
+			// wait for async popover display
+			process.nextTick( () => {
+				wrapper.update();
+				// menu should be open with all options
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'open' ) ).toBeDefined();
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'selectedIndex' ) ).toBe( 0 );
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'query' ) ).toEqual( '' );
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'search' ) ).toEqual( /(?:\b|\s|^)/i );
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'filteredOptions' ) ).toEqual( [
+					{ key: '0-0', value: testOptions[ 0 ], label: 'Bananas', keywords: [ 'fruit' ], isDisabled: true },
+					{ key: '0-1', value: testOptions[ 1 ], label: 'Apple', keywords: [ 'fruit' ], isDisabled: false },
+				] );
+				// pressing enter should NOT reset and NOT call getOptionCompletion
+				simulateKeydown( wrapper, ENTER );
+				expect( wrapper.state( 'open' ) ).toBeDefined();
+				expect( getOptionCompletion ).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+				// the editor should not have gotten the event
+				expect( editorKeydown ).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+				done();
+			} );
+		} );
+
 		it( 'doesn\'t otherwise interfere with keydown behavior', ( done ) => {
 			const wrapper = makeAutocompleter( [ slashCompleter ] );
 			// listen to keydown events on the editor to see if it gets them
diff --git a/editor/components/autocompleters/block.js b/editor/components/autocompleters/block.js
index 824e416445809a..171f90a6021661 100644
--- a/editor/components/autocompleters/block.js
+++ b/editor/components/autocompleters/block.js
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ export function createBlockCompleter( {
 				value: createBlock( name, initialAttributes ),
 			};
 		},
+		isOptionDisabled( inserterItem ) {
+			return inserterItem.isDisabled;
+		},
 	};
 }
 
diff --git a/editor/components/autocompleters/test/block.js b/editor/components/autocompleters/test/block.js
index f8d9f91a4364e5..dad08ead49dd3d 100644
--- a/editor/components/autocompleters/test/block.js
+++ b/editor/components/autocompleters/test/block.js
@@ -66,4 +66,22 @@ describe( 'block', () => {
 		expect( labelComponents.at( 0 ).prop( 'icon' ) ).toBe( 'expected-icon' );
 		expect( labelComponents.at( 1 ).text() ).toBe( 'expected-text' );
 	} );
+
+	it( 'should derive isOptionDisabled from the item\'s isDisabled', () => {
+		const disabledInserterItem = {
+			name: 'core/foo',
+			title: 'foo',
+			keywords: [ 'foo-keyword-1', 'foo-keyword-2' ],
+			isDisabled: true,
+		};
+		const enabledInserterItem = {
+			name: 'core/bar',
+			title: 'bar',
+			keywords: [],
+			isDisabled: false,
+		};
+
+		expect( blockCompleter.isOptionDisabled( disabledInserterItem ) ).toBe( true );
+		expect( blockCompleter.isOptionDisabled( enabledInserterItem ) ).toBe( false );
+	} );
 } );