diff --git a/mediagoblin.ini b/mediagoblin.ini
index 596107dc..e889646a 100644
--- a/mediagoblin.ini
+++ b/mediagoblin.ini
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ email_sender_address = "notice@mediagoblin.example.org"
 # set to false to enable sending notices
 email_debug_mode = true
 
+# Set to false to disable registrations
+allow_registration = true
+
 ## Uncomment this to put some user-overriding templates here
 #local_templates = %(here)s/user_dev/templates/
 
diff --git a/mediagoblin/auth/views.py b/mediagoblin/auth/views.py
index 2450023f..01bfc066 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/auth/views.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/auth/views.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import uuid
 from webob import exc
 
 from mediagoblin import messages
+from mediagoblin import mg_globals
 from mediagoblin.util import render_to_response, redirect
 from mediagoblin.db.util import ObjectId
 from mediagoblin.auth import lib as auth_lib
@@ -30,6 +31,11 @@ def register(request):
     """
     Your classic registration view!
     """
+
+    # Redirects to indexpage if registrations are disabled
+    if not mg_globals.app_config["allow_registration"]:
+        return redirect(request, "index")
+
     register_form = auth_forms.RegistrationForm(request.POST)
 
     if request.method == 'POST' and register_form.validate():
@@ -98,7 +104,8 @@ def login(request):
         'mediagoblin/auth/login.html',
         {'login_form': login_form,
          'next': request.GET.get('next') or request.POST.get('next'),
-         'login_failed': login_failed})
+         'login_failed': login_failed,
+         'allow_registration': mg_globals.app_config["allow_registration"]})
 
 
 def logout(request):
diff --git a/mediagoblin/config_spec.ini b/mediagoblin/config_spec.ini
index aadf5c21..b6356b0e 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/config_spec.ini
+++ b/mediagoblin/config_spec.ini
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ direct_remote_path = string(default="/mgoblin_static/")
 email_debug_mode = boolean(default=True)
 email_sender_address = string(default="notice@mediagoblin.example.org")
 
+# Set to false to disable registrations
+allow_registration = boolean(default=True)
+
 # By default not set, but you might want something like:
 # "%(here)s/user_dev/templates/"
 local_templates = string()
@@ -73,4 +76,4 @@ celeryd_eta_scheduler_precision = float()
 
 # known lists
 celery_routes = string_list()
-celery_imports = string_list()
\ No newline at end of file
+celery_imports = string_list()
diff --git a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/auth/login.html b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/auth/login.html
index 2303ce5c..e25783ea 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/auth/login.html
+++ b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/auth/login.html
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@
         <input type="hidden" name="next" value="{{ next }}" class="button"
                style="display: none;"/>
       {% endif %}
-      <p>Don't have an account yet?<br /><a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.auth.register') }}">Create one here!</a></p>
+      {% if allow_registration %}
+        <p>Don't have an account yet?<br /><a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.auth.register') }}">Create one here!</a></p>
+      {% endif %}
     </div>
   </form>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/root.html b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/root.html
index 5b744999..bae033c4 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/root.html
+++ b/mediagoblin/templates/mediagoblin/root.html
@@ -29,10 +29,12 @@
       If you have an account, you can
       <a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.auth.login') }}">Login</a>.
     </p>
-    <p>
-      If you don't have an account, please 
-      <a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.auth.register') }}">Register</a>.
-    </p>
+    {% if allow_registration %}
+      <p>
+        If you don't have an account, please 
+        <a href="{{ request.urlgen('mediagoblin.auth.register') }}">Register</a>.
+      </p>
+    {% endif %}
   {% endif %}
 
   {# temporarily, an "image gallery" that isn't one really ;) #}
diff --git a/mediagoblin/views.py b/mediagoblin/views.py
index 5b6d9773..e7d9dbdd 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/views.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/views.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+from mediagoblin import mg_globals
 from mediagoblin.util import render_to_response
 from mediagoblin.db.util import DESCENDING
 
@@ -23,7 +24,8 @@ def root_view(request):
     
     return render_to_response(
         request, 'mediagoblin/root.html',
-        {'media_entries': media_entries})
+        {'media_entries': media_entries,
+         'allow_registration': mg_globals.app_config["allow_registration"]})
 
 
 def simple_template_render(request):