diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 72b75a52..a8ee5fda 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ window.fetch('/static/config.json')
     store.dispatch('setOption', { name: 'background', value: background })
     store.dispatch('setOption', { name: 'logo', value: logo })
     store.dispatch('setOption', { name: 'registrationOpen', value: registrationOpen })
+    if (data['chatDisabled']) {
+      store.dispatch('disableChat')
+    }
 
     const routes = [
       { name: 'root', path: '/', redirect: data['defaultPath'] || '/main/all' },
diff --git a/src/modules/api.js b/src/modules/api.js
index ccd6cfb7..c91fb97b 100644
--- a/src/modules/api.js
+++ b/src/modules/api.js
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ const api = {
   state: {
     backendInteractor: backendInteractorService(),
     fetchers: {},
-    socket: null
+    socket: null,
+    chatDisabled: false
   },
   mutations: {
     setBackendInteractor (state, backendInteractor) {
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ const api = {
     },
     setSocket (state, socket) {
       state.socket = socket
+    },
+    setChatDisabled (state, value) {
+      state.chatDisabled = value
     }
   },
   actions: {
@@ -45,9 +49,14 @@ const api = {
     },
     initializeSocket (store, token) {
       // Set up websocket connection
-      let socket = new Socket('/socket', {params: {token: token}})
-      socket.connect()
-      store.dispatch('initializeChat', socket)
+      if (!store.state.chatDisabled) {
+        let socket = new Socket('/socket', {params: {token: token}})
+        socket.connect()
+        store.dispatch('initializeChat', socket)
+      }
+    },
+    disableChat (store) {
+      store.commit('setChatDisabled', true)
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/static/config.json b/static/config.json
index b186246b..880efca8 100644
--- a/static/config.json
+++ b/static/config.json
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@
   "background": "/static/bg.jpg",
   "logo": "/static/logo.png",
   "registrationOpen": false,
-  "defaultPath": "/main/all"
+  "defaultPath": "/main/all",
+  "chatDisabled": false
 }