diff --git a/core/commands/stat.go b/core/commands/stat.go
index ad9a576ee9c..94286703c61 100644
--- a/core/commands/stat.go
+++ b/core/commands/stat.go
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ Example:
 			return
 		}
 
+		if nd.Reporter == nil {
+			res.SetError(fmt.Errorf("bandwidth reporter disabled in config"), cmds.ErrNormal)
+			return
+		}
+
 		pstr, pfound, err := req.Option("peer").String()
 		if err != nil {
 			res.SetError(err, cmds.ErrNormal)
diff --git a/core/core.go b/core/core.go
index adadc1920f3..acc59bbb191 100644
--- a/core/core.go
+++ b/core/core.go
@@ -143,9 +143,6 @@ func (n *IpfsNode) startOnlineServices(ctx context.Context, routingOption Routin
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Set reporter
-	n.Reporter = metrics.NewBandwidthCounter()
-
 	// get undialable addrs from config
 	cfg, err := n.Repo.Config()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -160,6 +157,11 @@ func (n *IpfsNode) startOnlineServices(ctx context.Context, routingOption Routin
 		addrfilter = append(addrfilter, f)
 	}
 
+	if !cfg.Swarm.DisableBandwidthMetrics {
+		// Set reporter
+		n.Reporter = metrics.NewBandwidthCounter()
+	}
+
 	peerhost, err := hostOption(ctx, n.Identity, n.Peerstore, n.Reporter, addrfilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 87f100c7f9a..bd9395bcfb2 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -213,5 +213,10 @@ Options for configuring the swarm.
 An array of address filters (multiaddr netmasks) to filter dials to.
 See https://github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/issues/1226#issuecomment-120494604 for more information.
 
+- `DisableBandwidthMetrics`
+A boolean value that when set to true, will cause ipfs to not keep track of
+bandwidth metrics. Disabling bandwidth metrics can lead to a slight performance
+improvement, as well as a reduction in memory usage. 
+
 ## `Tour`
 Unused.
diff --git a/repo/config/swarm.go b/repo/config/swarm.go
index d398b3d80af..7d074d996d2 100644
--- a/repo/config/swarm.go
+++ b/repo/config/swarm.go
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package config
 
 type SwarmConfig struct {
-	AddrFilters []string
+	AddrFilters             []string
+	DisableBandwidthMetrics bool
 }