diff --git a/doc/environment-vars.txt b/doc/environment-vars.txt
index 8f615f4f6..fab3c3158 100644
--- a/doc/environment-vars.txt
+++ b/doc/environment-vars.txt
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ CAMLI_DEV_CLOSURE_DIR (string):
   Path override for pkg/server. If specified, this path will be used to serve
   the closure handler.
 
+CAMLI_DISABLE_IMPORTERS (bool):
+  If true, importers are disabled (at least automatic background
+  importing, e.g. at start-up). Mostly for debugging.
+
 CAMLI_HTTP_DEBUG (bool):
   Enable per-request logging in pkg/webserver.
 
diff --git a/pkg/importer/importer.go b/pkg/importer/importer.go
index c983073ae..90bd79ee8 100644
--- a/pkg/importer/importer.go
+++ b/pkg/importer/importer.go
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -612,7 +614,13 @@ func (h *Host) startPeriodicImporters() {
 	}
 }
 
+var disableImporters, _ = strconv.ParseBool(os.Getenv("CAMLI_DISABLE_IMPORTERS"))
+
 func (ia *importerAcct) maybeStart() {
+	if disableImporters {
+		log.Printf("Importers disabled, per environment.")
+		return
+	}
 	acctObj, err := ia.im.host.ObjectFromRef(ia.acct.PermanodeRef())
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("Error maybe starting %v: %v", ia.acct.PermanodeRef(), err)