diff --git a/settings.json.example b/settings.json.example
index ee71266..0392a02 100644
--- a/settings.json.example
+++ b/settings.json.example
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     "pg_db": "rcgcdb",
     "pg_pass": "secret_password",
     "pg_port": "5432",
+    "discussions_enabled": false,
     "irc_servers": {
         "your custom name for the farm": {
             "domains": ["wikipedia.org", "otherwikipedia.org"],
diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index dab521a..83745fb 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ async def message_sender():
 
 async def discussion_handler():
 	await asyncio.sleep(3.0)  # Make some time before IRC code is executed, happens only once and saves if inside
+	if not settings.get("discussions_enabled", False):
+		raise asyncio.CancelledError
 	try:
 		while True:
 			async with db.pool().acquire() as connection: