diff --git a/conf/st2.conf.sample b/conf/st2.conf.sample
index 22ad407a37..dada02cf2b 100644
--- a/conf/st2.conf.sample
+++ b/conf/st2.conf.sample
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ packs_base_paths = None
 [coordination]
 # Endpoint for the coordination server.
 url = None
+# True to register StackStorm services in a service registry.
+service_registry = False
 # TTL for the lock if backend suports it.
 lock_timeout = 60
 
diff --git a/st2common/st2common/config.py b/st2common/st2common/config.py
index 789a32c952..15d863a99f 100644
--- a/st2common/st2common/config.py
+++ b/st2common/st2common/config.py
@@ -441,7 +441,10 @@ def register_opts(ignore_errors=False):
             help='Endpoint for the coordination server.'),
         cfg.IntOpt(
             'lock_timeout', default=60,
-            help='TTL for the lock if backend suports it.')
+            help='TTL for the lock if backend suports it.'),
+        cfg.BoolOpt(
+            'service_registry', default=False,
+            help='True to register StackStorm services in a service registry.'),
     ]
 
     do_register_opts(coord_opts, 'coordination', ignore_errors)
diff --git a/st2common/st2common/service_setup.py b/st2common/st2common/service_setup.py
index 3c1002a0db..c37afff591 100644
--- a/st2common/st2common/service_setup.py
+++ b/st2common/st2common/service_setup.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ def setup(service, config, setup_db=True, register_mq_exchanges=True,
     metrics_initialize()
 
     # Register service in the service registry
-    if service_registry:
+    if cfg.CONF.coordination.service_registry and service_registry:
         # NOTE: It's important that we pass start_heart=True to start the hearbeat process
         register_service_in_service_registry(service=service, capabilities=capabilities,
                                              start_heart=True)