diff --git a/lib/services/web.js b/lib/services/web.js
index af773b87..5f809806 100644
--- a/lib/services/web.js
+++ b/lib/services/web.js
@@ -1,15 +1,19 @@
 'use strict';
 
+var fs = require('fs');
 var http = require('http');
 var https = require('https');
 var express = require('express');
 var bodyParser = require('body-parser');
 var socketio = require('socket.io');
-var BaseService = require('../service');
 var inherits = require('util').inherits;
+
+var BaseService = require('../service');
+var bitcore = require('bitcore-lib');
+var _ = bitcore.deps._;
 var index = require('../');
 var log = index.log;
-var fs = require('fs');
+
 
 /**
  * This service represents a hub for combining several services over a single HTTP port. Services
@@ -32,6 +36,9 @@ var WebService = function(options) {
   this.httpsOptions = options.httpsOptions || this.node.httpsOptions;
   this.port = options.port || this.node.port || 3456;
 
+  this.enableSocketRPC = _.isUndefined(options.enableSocketRPC) ?
+    WebService.DEFAULT_SOCKET_RPC : options.enableSocketRPC;
+
   this.node.on('ready', function() {
     self.eventNames = self.getEventNames();
     self.setupAllRoutes();
@@ -43,6 +50,7 @@ var WebService = function(options) {
 inherits(WebService, BaseService);
 
 WebService.dependencies = [];
+WebService.DEFAULT_SOCKET_RPC = true;
 
 /**
  * Called by Node to start the service
@@ -157,7 +165,9 @@ WebService.prototype.getEventNames = function() {
 WebService.prototype.socketHandler = function(socket) {
   var bus = this.node.openBus();
 
-  socket.on('message', this.socketMessageHandler.bind(this));
+  if (this.enableSocketRPC) {
+    socket.on('message', this.socketMessageHandler.bind(this));
+  }
 
   socket.on('subscribe', function(name, params) {
     bus.subscribe(name, params);
diff --git a/test/services/web.unit.js b/test/services/web.unit.js
index 4bc5760f..5415af2d 100644
--- a/test/services/web.unit.js
+++ b/test/services/web.unit.js
@@ -36,6 +36,19 @@ var WebService = proxyquire('../../lib/services/web', {http: httpStub, https: ht
 describe('WebService', function() {
   var defaultNode = new EventEmitter();
 
+  describe('@constructor', function() {
+    it('will set socket rpc settings', function() {
+      var web = new WebService({node: defaultNode, enableSocketRPC: false});
+      web.enableSocketRPC.should.equal(false);
+
+      var web2 = new WebService({node: defaultNode, enableSocketRPC: true});
+      web2.enableSocketRPC.should.equal(true);
+
+      var web3 = new WebService({node: defaultNode});
+      web3.enableSocketRPC.should.equal(WebService.DEFAULT_SOCKET_RPC);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#start', function() {
     beforeEach(function() {
       httpStub.createServer.reset();
@@ -236,6 +249,19 @@ describe('WebService', function() {
       socket.emit('message', 'data');
     });
 
+    it('on message should NOT call socketMessageHandler if not enabled', function(done) {
+      web = new WebService({node: node, enableSocketRPC: false});
+      web.eventNames = web.getEventNames();
+      web.socketMessageHandler = sinon.stub();
+      socket = new EventEmitter();
+      web.socketHandler(socket);
+      socket.on('message', function() {
+        web.socketMessageHandler.callCount.should.equal(0);
+        done();
+      });
+      socket.emit('message', 'data');
+    });
+
     it('on subscribe should call bus.subscribe', function(done) {
       bus.subscribe = function(param1) {
         param1.should.equal('data');