diff --git a/src/paperless/settings.py b/src/paperless/settings.py
index 1c88c6bb8..450bd30d8 100644
--- a/src/paperless/settings.py
+++ b/src/paperless/settings.py
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ CONSUMER_LOOP_TIME = int(os.getenv("PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_LOOP_TIME", 10))
 # with GPG, including an interesting case where it may "encrypt" zero-byte
 # files.
 PASSPHRASE = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_PASSPHRASE")
+ENABLE_ENCRYPTION = os.getenv('DISABLE_ENCRYPTION') != 'true'
 
 # Trigger a script after every successful document consumption?
 PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT")