diff --git a/config.ini b/config.ini
index 6d39c93..bcac4ca 100644
--- a/config.ini
+++ b/config.ini
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ spawnz=-5500
 
 # Player location monitor interface configuration
 [monitor]
+enabled=false
 # the port to listen for connections on
 port=8003
 # how often the listeners should be updated (in milliseconds)
diff --git a/src/Monitor.cpp b/src/Monitor.cpp
index dab3022..f939672 100644
--- a/src/Monitor.cpp
+++ b/src/Monitor.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ static sockaddr_in address;
 
 // runs during init
 void Monitor::init() {
+    if (!settings::MONITORENABLED)
+        return;
+
     listener = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
     if (SOCKETERROR(listener)) {
         std::cout << "Failed to create monitor socket" << std::endl;
@@ -106,6 +109,9 @@ void Monitor::tick(CNServer *serv, time_t delta) {
 void Monitor::start(void *unused) {
     socklen_t len = sizeof(address);
 
+    if (!settings::MONITORENABLED)
+        return;
+
     for (;;) {
         int sock = accept(listener, (struct sockaddr*)&address, &len);
         if (SOCKETERROR(sock))
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index c4db43f..8ac644a 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ std::string settings::MOTDSTRING = "Welcome to OpenFusion!";
 int settings::ACCLEVEL = 1;
 
 // monitor settings
+bool settings::MONITORENABLED = false;
 int settings::MONITORPORT = 8003;
 int settings::MONITORINTERVAL = 5000;
 
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ void settings::init() {
     ACCLEVEL = reader.GetInteger("shard", "accountlevel", ACCLEVEL);
     EVENTMODE = reader.GetInteger("shard", "eventmode", EVENTMODE);
     EVENTCRATECHANCE = reader.GetInteger("shard", "eventcratechance", EVENTCRATECHANCE);
+    MONITORENABLED = reader.GetBoolean("monitor", "enabled", MONITORENABLED);
     MONITORPORT = reader.GetInteger("monitor", "port", MONITORPORT);
     MONITORINTERVAL = reader.GetInteger("monitor", "interval", MONITORINTERVAL);
 }
diff --git a/src/settings.hpp b/src/settings.hpp
index 60476f6..0d92fef 100644
--- a/src/settings.hpp
+++ b/src/settings.hpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ namespace settings {
     extern std::string GRUNTWORKJSON;
     extern int EVENTMODE;
     extern int EVENTCRATECHANCE;
+    extern bool MONITORENABLED;
     extern int MONITORPORT;
     extern int MONITORINTERVAL;