diff --git a/api.go b/api.go
index a90a520..5302a36 100644
--- a/api.go
+++ b/api.go
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (r *Router) startAPIServer(config config.ApiConfig) {
+	if !config.Enabled {
+		r.logger.Warn("API not enabled")
+		return
+	}
 	r.logger.Debug("starting API server", "port", config.Port)
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
 	mux.HandleFunc("/ws", r.handleWebsocket)
@@ -36,6 +40,9 @@ func (r *Router) startAPIServer(config config.ApiConfig) {
 }
 
 func (r *Router) stopAPIServer() {
+	if r.apiServer == nil {
+		return
+	}
 	r.logger.Debug("stopping API server")
 	r.apiServerMu.Lock()
 	defer r.apiServerMu.Unlock()
diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 71a0138..4616f69 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 api:
+  enabled: true
   port: 8080
 modules:
   - id: http
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 6878187..7e705a2 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ type Config struct {
 }
 
 type ApiConfig struct {
-	Port int `json:"port"`
+	Enabled bool `json:"enabled"`
+	Port    int  `json:"port"`
 }
 type ModuleConfig struct {
 	Id     string `json:"id"`
diff --git a/schema/config.schema.json b/schema/config.schema.json
index 7046004..74b9c32 100644
--- a/schema/config.schema.json
+++ b/schema/config.schema.json
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
     "api": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
+        "enabled": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "description": "Whether the API server is enabled"
+        },
         "port": {
           "type": "integer",
           "description": "Port for the API server to listen on"