diff --git a/ddtrace/tracer/option.go b/ddtrace/tracer/option.go
index 1f9acf9dfc..aa1b0459ea 100644
--- a/ddtrace/tracer/option.go
+++ b/ddtrace/tracer/option.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/ddtrace"
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/ddtrace/ext"
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/internal"
+	appsecconfig "gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/internal/appsec/config"
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/internal/civisibility/constants"
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/internal/globalconfig"
 	"gopkg.in/DataDog/dd-trace-go.v1/internal/log"
@@ -114,6 +115,9 @@ type config struct {
 	// debug, when true, writes details to logs.
 	debug bool
 
+	// appsecStartOptions controls the options used when starting appsec features.
+	appsecStartOptions []appsecconfig.StartOption
+
 	// agent holds the capabilities of the agent and determines some
 	// of the behaviour of the tracer.
 	agent agentFeatures
@@ -660,7 +664,7 @@ func loadAgentFeatures(agentDisabled bool, agentURL *url.URL, httpClient *http.C
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
 	type agentConfig struct {
-		defaultEnv string `json:"default_env"`
+		DefaultEnv string `json:"default_env"`
 	}
 	type infoResponse struct {
 		Endpoints     []string    `json:"endpoints"`
@@ -762,6 +766,25 @@ func withNoopStats() StartOption {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithAppSecEnabled specifies whether AppSec features should be activated
+// or not.
+//
+// By default, AppSec features are enabled if `DD_APPSEC_ENABLED` is set to a
+// truthy value; and may be enabled by remote configuration if
+// `DD_APPSEC_ENABLED` is not set at all.
+//
+// Using this option to explicitly disable appsec also prevents it from being
+// remote activated.
+func WithAppSecEnabled(enabled bool) StartOption {
+	mode := appsecconfig.ForcedOff
+	if enabled {
+		mode = appsecconfig.ForcedOn
+	}
+	return func(c *config) {
+		c.appsecStartOptions = append(c.appsecStartOptions, appsecconfig.WithEnablementMode(mode))
+	}
+}
+
 // WithFeatureFlags specifies a set of feature flags to enable. Please take into account
 // that most, if not all features flags are considered to be experimental and result in
 // unexpected bugs.
diff --git a/ddtrace/tracer/tracer.go b/ddtrace/tracer/tracer.go
index 104e31eb1c..378c0ff418 100644
--- a/ddtrace/tracer/tracer.go
+++ b/ddtrace/tracer/tracer.go
@@ -181,7 +181,10 @@ func Start(opts ...StartOption) {
 	// appsec.Start() may use the telemetry client to report activation, so it is
 	// important this happens _AFTER_ startTelemetry() has been called, so the
 	// client is appropriately configured.
-	appsec.Start(appsecConfig.WithRCConfig(cfg))
+	appsecopts := make([]appsecConfig.StartOption, 0, len(t.config.appsecStartOptions)+1)
+	appsecopts = append(appsecopts, t.config.appsecStartOptions...)
+	appsecopts = append(appsecopts, appsecConfig.WithRCConfig(cfg))
+	appsec.Start(appsecopts...)
 	_ = t.hostname() // Prime the hostname cache
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/appsec/appsec.go b/internal/appsec/appsec.go
index 0dc042caa1..c04f8b3a00 100644
--- a/internal/appsec/appsec.go
+++ b/internal/appsec/appsec.go
@@ -39,32 +39,41 @@ func Start(opts ...config.StartOption) {
 	telemetry := newAppsecTelemetry()
 	defer telemetry.emit()
 
+	startConfig := config.NewStartConfig(opts...)
+
 	// AppSec can start either:
-	// 1. Manually thanks to DD_APPSEC_ENABLED
+	// 1. Manually thanks to DD_APPSEC_ENABLED (or via [config.WithEnablementMode])
 	// 2. Remotely when DD_APPSEC_ENABLED is undefined
 	// Note: DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=false takes precedence over remote configuration
 	// and enforces to have AppSec disabled.
-	enabled, set, err := config.IsEnabled()
+	mode, modeOrigin, err := startConfig.EnablementMode()
 	if err != nil {
 		logUnexpectedStartError(err)
 		return
 	}
-	if set {
-		telemetry.addEnvConfig("DD_APPSEC_ENABLED", enabled)
+
+	switch modeOrigin {
+	case config.OriginEnvVar:
+		telemetry.addEnvConfig("DD_APPSEC_ENABLED", mode == config.ForcedOn)
+		if mode == config.ForcedOff {
+			log.Debug("appsec: disabled by the configuration: set the environment variable DD_APPSEC_ENABLED to true to enable it")
+			return
+		}
+	case config.OriginExplicitOption:
+		telemetry.addCodeConfig("WithEnablementMode", mode)
 	}
 
-	// Check if AppSec is explicitly disabled
-	if set && !enabled {
-		log.Debug("appsec: disabled by the configuration: set the environment variable DD_APPSEC_ENABLED to true to enable it")
+	// In any case, if we're forced off, we no longer have any business here...
+	if mode == config.ForcedOff {
 		return
 	}
 
 	// Check whether libddwaf - required for Threats Detection - is ok or not
 	if ok, err := waf.Health(); !ok {
 		// We need to avoid logging an error to APM tracing users who don't necessarily intend to enable appsec
-		if set {
+		if mode == config.ForcedOn {
 			// DD_APPSEC_ENABLED is explicitly set so we log an error
-			log.Error("appsec: threats detection cannot be enabled for the following reasons: %vappsec: no security activities will be collected. Please contact support at https://docs.datadoghq.com/help/ for help.", err)
+			log.Error("appsec: threats detection cannot be enabled for the following reasons: %v\nappsec: no security activities will be collected. Please contact support at https://docs.datadoghq.com/help/ for help.", err)
 		} else {
 			// DD_APPSEC_ENABLED is not set so we cannot know what the intent is here, we must log a
 			// debug message instead to avoid showing an error to APM-tracing-only users.
@@ -74,14 +83,11 @@ func Start(opts ...config.StartOption) {
 	}
 
 	// From this point we know that AppSec is either enabled or can be enabled through remote config
-	cfg, err := config.NewConfig()
+	cfg, err := startConfig.NewConfig()
 	if err != nil {
 		logUnexpectedStartError(err)
 		return
 	}
-	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt(cfg)
-	}
 	appsec := newAppSec(cfg)
 
 	// Start the remote configuration client
@@ -90,7 +96,7 @@ func Start(opts ...config.StartOption) {
 		log.Error("appsec: Remote config: disabled due to an instanciation error: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if !set {
+	if mode == config.RCStandby {
 		// AppSec is not enforced by the env var and can be enabled through remote config
 		log.Debug("appsec: %s is not set, appsec won't start until activated through remote configuration", config.EnvEnabled)
 		if err := appsec.enableRemoteActivation(); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/appsec/config/config.go b/internal/appsec/config/config.go
index 6ffcbafcf1..7d334017f2 100644
--- a/internal/appsec/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/appsec/config/config.go
@@ -50,7 +50,78 @@ const (
 )
 
 // StartOption is used to customize the AppSec configuration when invoked with appsec.Start()
-type StartOption func(c *Config)
+type StartOption func(c *StartConfig)
+
+type StartConfig struct {
+	// RC is the remote config client configuration to be used.
+	RC *remoteconfig.ClientConfig
+	// IsEnabled is a function that determines whether AppSec is enabled or not. When unset, the
+	// default [IsEnabled] function is used.
+	EnablementMode func() (EnablementMode, Origin, error)
+}
+
+type EnablementMode int8
+
+const (
+	// ForcedOff is the mode where AppSec is forced to be disabled, not allowing remote activation.
+	ForcedOff EnablementMode = -1
+	// RCStandby is the mode where AppSec is in stand-by, waiting remote activation.
+	RCStandby EnablementMode = 0
+	// ForcedOn is the mode where AppSec is forced to be enabled.
+	ForcedOn EnablementMode = 1
+)
+
+type Origin uint8
+
+const (
+	// OriginDefault is the origin of configuration values not explicitly set by the user in any way.
+	OriginDefault Origin = iota
+	// OriginEnvVar is the origin of configuration values set through environment variables.
+	OriginEnvVar
+	// OriginExplicitOption is the origin of configuration values set though explicit options in code.
+	OriginExplicitOption
+)
+
+func NewStartConfig(opts ...StartOption) *StartConfig {
+	c := &StartConfig{
+		EnablementMode: func() (mode EnablementMode, origin Origin, err error) {
+			enabled, set, err := IsEnabledByEnvironment()
+			if set {
+				origin = OriginEnvVar
+				if enabled {
+					mode = ForcedOn
+				} else {
+					mode = ForcedOff
+				}
+			} else {
+				origin = OriginDefault
+				mode = RCStandby
+			}
+			return mode, origin, err
+		},
+	}
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		opt(c)
+	}
+	return c
+}
+
+// WithEnablementMode forces AppSec enablement, replacing the default initialization conditions
+// implemented by [IsEnabledByEnvironment].
+func WithEnablementMode(mode EnablementMode) StartOption {
+	return func(c *StartConfig) {
+		c.EnablementMode = func() (EnablementMode, Origin, error) {
+			return mode, OriginExplicitOption, nil
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// WithRCConfig sets the AppSec remote config client configuration to the specified cfg
+func WithRCConfig(cfg remoteconfig.ClientConfig) StartOption {
+	return func(c *StartConfig) {
+		c.RC = &cfg
+	}
+}
 
 // Config is the AppSec configuration.
 type Config struct {
@@ -94,17 +165,12 @@ func (set AddressSet) AnyOf(anyOf ...string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// WithRCConfig sets the AppSec remote config client configuration to the specified cfg
-func WithRCConfig(cfg remoteconfig.ClientConfig) StartOption {
-	return func(c *Config) {
-		c.RC = &cfg
-	}
-}
-
-// IsEnabled returns true when appsec is enabled by the environment variable DD_APPSEC_ENABLED (as of strconv's boolean
-// parsing rules). When false, it also returns whether the env var was actually set or not.
-// In case of a parsing error, it returns a detailed error.
-func IsEnabled() (enabled bool, set bool, err error) {
+// IsEnabledByEnvironment returns true when appsec is enabled by the environment variable
+// [EnvEnabled] being set to a truthy value, as well as whether the environment variable was set at
+// all or not (so it is possible to distinguish between explicitly false, and false-by-default).
+// If the [EnvEnabled] variable is set to a value that is not a valid boolean (according to
+// [strconv.ParseBool]), it is considered false-y, and a detailed error is also returned.
+func IsEnabledByEnvironment() (enabled bool, set bool, err error) {
 	return parseBoolEnvVar(EnvEnabled)
 }
 
@@ -123,7 +189,7 @@ func parseBoolEnvVar(env string) (enabled bool, set bool, err error) {
 }
 
 // NewConfig returns a fresh appsec configuration read from the env
-func NewConfig() (*Config, error) {
+func (c *StartConfig) NewConfig() (*Config, error) {
 	rules, err := internal.RulesFromEnv()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -141,5 +207,6 @@ func NewConfig() (*Config, error) {
 		Obfuscator:     internal.NewObfuscatorConfig(),
 		APISec:         internal.NewAPISecConfig(),
 		RASP:           internal.RASPEnabled(),
+		RC:             c.RC,
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/appsec/remoteconfig_test.go b/internal/appsec/remoteconfig_test.go
index 908cea0793..a83e92bc11 100644
--- a/internal/appsec/remoteconfig_test.go
+++ b/internal/appsec/remoteconfig_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ package appsec
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"slices"
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func TestASMFeaturesCallback(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	enabledPayload := []byte(`{"asm":{"enabled":true}}`)
 	disabledPayload := []byte(`{"asm":{"enabled":false}}`)
-	cfg, err := config.NewConfig()
+	cfg, err := config.NewStartConfig().NewConfig()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	a := newAppSec(cfg)
 	err = a.startRC()
@@ -410,6 +411,26 @@ func TestRemoteActivationScenarios(t *testing.T) {
 		require.False(t, found)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("WithEnablementMode(EnabledModeForcedOn)", func(t *testing.T) {
+		for _, envVal := range []string{"", "true", "false"} {
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=%s", envVal), func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Setenv(config.EnvEnabled, envVal)
+
+				remoteconfig.Reset()
+				Start(config.WithEnablementMode(config.ForcedOn), config.WithRCConfig(remoteconfig.DefaultClientConfig()))
+				defer Stop()
+
+				require.True(t, Enabled())
+				found, err := remoteconfig.HasCapability(remoteconfig.ASMActivation)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.False(t, found)
+				found, err = remoteconfig.HasProduct(rc.ProductASMFeatures)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.False(t, found)
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=false", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Setenv(config.EnvEnabled, "false")
 		Start(config.WithRCConfig(remoteconfig.DefaultClientConfig()))
@@ -417,6 +438,19 @@ func TestRemoteActivationScenarios(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Nil(t, activeAppSec)
 		require.False(t, Enabled())
 	})
+
+	t.Run("WithEnablementMode(EnabledModeForcedOff)", func(t *testing.T) {
+		for _, envVal := range []string{"", "true", "false"} {
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=%s", envVal), func(t *testing.T) {
+				t.Setenv(config.EnvEnabled, envVal)
+
+				Start(config.WithEnablementMode(config.ForcedOff), config.WithRCConfig(remoteconfig.DefaultClientConfig()))
+				defer Stop()
+				require.Nil(t, activeAppSec)
+				require.False(t, Enabled())
+			})
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 func TestCapabilitiesAndProducts(t *testing.T) {
@@ -829,7 +863,7 @@ func TestWafRCUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	t.Run("toggle-blocking", func(t *testing.T) {
-		cfg, err := config.NewConfig()
+		cfg, err := config.NewStartConfig().NewConfig()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		wafHandle, err := waf.NewHandle(cfg.RulesManager.Latest, cfg.Obfuscator.KeyRegex, cfg.Obfuscator.ValueRegex)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
diff --git a/internal/appsec/telemetry.go b/internal/appsec/telemetry.go
index 2b07117bd8..2a8b0b42d3 100644
--- a/internal/appsec/telemetry.go
+++ b/internal/appsec/telemetry.go
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ func (a *appsecTelemetry) addConfig(name string, value any) {
 	a.configs = append(a.configs, telemetry.Configuration{Name: name, Value: value})
 }
 
+// addCodeConfig adds a new configuration entry to this telemetry event.
+func (a *appsecTelemetry) addCodeConfig(name string, value any) {
+	if a == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	a.configs = append(a.configs, telemetry.Configuration{Name: name, Value: value, Origin: telemetry.OriginCode})
+}
+
 // addEnvConfig adds a new envionment-sourced configuration entry to this event.
 func (a *appsecTelemetry) addEnvConfig(name string, value any) {
 	if a == nil {