diff --git a/src/paperless/settings.py b/src/paperless/settings.py
index 59133dd45..8d14262d1 100644
--- a/src/paperless/settings.py
+++ b/src/paperless/settings.py
@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = [
 
     "django_q",
 
-    "channels",
-
 ] + env_apps
 
+if DEBUG:
+    INSTALLED_APPS.append("channels")
+
 REST_FRAMEWORK = {
     'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': [
         'rest_framework.authentication.BasicAuthentication',