diff --git a/olsrd/files/olsrd.config b/olsrd/files/olsrd.config
index 68024ed3b..425b2ffb9 100644
--- a/olsrd/files/olsrd.config
+++ b/olsrd/files/olsrd.config
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-config olsrd
+config olsrd olsrd
 	# uncomment the following line to use a custom config file instead:
 	#option config_file '/etc/olsrd.conf'
+	option ignore 0
 
 config LoadPlugin
 	option library 'olsrd_arprefresh.so.0.1'
diff --git a/olsrd/files/olsrd4.init b/olsrd/files/olsrd4.init
index 62cb66d6f..1475efaf3 100644
--- a/olsrd/files/olsrd4.init
+++ b/olsrd/files/olsrd4.init
@@ -39,17 +39,20 @@ boot()
 start_service() {
 	olsrd_generate_config $OLSRD
 
-	procd_open_instance
-
 	config_load olsrd
 	local _respawn_threshold
 	local _respawn_timeout
 	local _respawn_retry
+	local _ignore
 
 	config_get _respawn_threshold procd respawn_threshold 3600
 	config_get _respawn_timeout procd respawn_timeout 15
 	config_get _respawn_retry procd respawn_retry 0
+	config_get_bool _ignore olsrd ignore 0
 
+	[ $_ignore -ne 0 ] && return
+
+	procd_open_instance
 	procd_set_param command "$BIN"
 	procd_append_param command -f ${CONF}
 	procd_append_param command -nofork
diff --git a/olsrd/files/olsrd6.config b/olsrd/files/olsrd6.config
index 52a9b21cd..c26bd6c0b 100644
--- a/olsrd/files/olsrd6.config
+++ b/olsrd/files/olsrd6.config
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-config olsrd
+config olsrd olsrd
 	# uncomment the following line to use a custom config file instead:
 	#option config_file '/etc/olsrd6.conf'
+	option ignore 0
 
 config LoadPlugin
 	option library 'olsrd_txtinfo.so.1.1'
diff --git a/olsrd/files/olsrd6.init b/olsrd/files/olsrd6.init
index a20e96728..ed49b4b92 100644
--- a/olsrd/files/olsrd6.init
+++ b/olsrd/files/olsrd6.init
@@ -39,17 +39,20 @@ boot()
 start_service() {
 	olsrd_generate_config $OLSRD
 
-	procd_open_instance
-
 	config_load olsrd6
 	local _respawn_threshold
 	local _respawn_timeout
 	local _respawn_retry
+	local _ignore
 
 	config_get _respawn_threshold procd _respawn_threshold 3600
 	config_get _respawn_timeout procd respawn_timeout 15
 	config_get _respawn_retry procd respawn_retry 0
+	config_get_bool _ignore olsrd ignore 0
 
+	[ $_ignore -ne 0 ] && return
+
+	procd_open_instance
 	procd_set_param command "$BIN"
 	procd_append_param command -f ${CONF}
 	procd_append_param command -nofork