diff --git a/config_examples/config_freqai.example.json b/config_examples/config_freqai.example.json
index e9fc50a4a..aeb1cb13d 100644
--- a/config_examples/config_freqai.example.json
+++ b/config_examples/config_freqai.example.json
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
         }
     ],
     "freqai": {
+        "enabled": true,
         "startup_candles": 10000,
         "purge_old_models": true,
         "train_period_days": 15,
diff --git a/freqtrade/constants.py b/freqtrade/constants.py
index b5d6b4b8e..ddbc84fa9 100644
--- a/freqtrade/constants.py
+++ b/freqtrade/constants.py
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ CONF_SCHEMA = {
         "freqai": {
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
+                "enabled": {"type": "boolean", "default": False},
                 "keras": {"type": "boolean", "default": False},
                 "conv_width": {"type": "integer", "default": 2},
                 "train_period_days": {"type": "integer", "default": 0},
@@ -525,12 +526,15 @@ CONF_SCHEMA = {
                     },
                 },
             },
-            "required": ["train_period_days",
-                         "backtest_period_days",
-                         "identifier",
-                         "feature_parameters",
-                         "data_split_parameters",
-                         "model_training_parameters"]
+            "required": [
+                "enabled",
+                "train_period_days",
+                "backtest_period_days",
+                "identifier",
+                "feature_parameters",
+                "data_split_parameters",
+                "model_training_parameters"
+                ]
         },
     },
 }
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index c00f30686..7691b96f1 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class Backtesting:
         self.dataprovider = DataProvider(self.config, self.exchange)
 
         if self.config.get('strategy_list'):
-            if self.config.get('freqai'):
+            if self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
                 raise OperationalException(
                     "You can't use strategy_list and freqai at the same time.")
             for strat in list(self.config['strategy_list']):
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class Backtesting:
         """
         self.progress.init_step(BacktestState.DATALOAD, 1)
 
-        if self.config.get('freqai') is not None:
+        if self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
             startup_candles = int(self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('startup_candles', 0))
             if not startup_candles:
                 raise OperationalException('FreqAI backtesting module requires user set '
diff --git a/freqtrade/plugins/pairlist/pairlist_helpers.py b/freqtrade/plugins/pairlist/pairlist_helpers.py
index a07a0f783..f1eca6df0 100644
--- a/freqtrade/plugins/pairlist/pairlist_helpers.py
+++ b/freqtrade/plugins/pairlist/pairlist_helpers.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def expand_pairlist(wildcardpl: List[str], available_pairs: List[str],
 
 def dynamic_expand_pairlist(config: dict, markets: list) -> List[str]:
     expanded_pairs = expand_pairlist(config['pairs'], markets)
-    if config.get('freqai', {}):
+    if config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
         corr_pairlist = config['freqai']['feature_parameters']['include_corr_pairlist']
         expanded_pairs += [pair for pair in corr_pairlist
                            if pair not in config['pairs']]
diff --git a/freqtrade/strategy/interface.py b/freqtrade/strategy/interface.py
index cda8a1cbc..d10699e3b 100644
--- a/freqtrade/strategy/interface.py
+++ b/freqtrade/strategy/interface.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class IStrategy(ABC, HyperStrategyMixin):
                 self._ft_informative.append((informative_data, cls_method))
 
     def load_freqAI_model(self) -> None:
-        if self.config.get('freqai', None):
+        if self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
             # Import here to avoid importing this if freqAI is disabled
             from freqtrade.resolvers.freqaimodel_resolver import FreqaiModelResolver
 
diff --git a/tests/freqai/conftest.py b/tests/freqai/conftest.py
index ee02cc097..63f3ef2c7 100644
--- a/tests/freqai/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/freqai/conftest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def freqai_conf(default_conf, tmpdir):
     freqaiconf = deepcopy(default_conf)
     freqaiconf.update(
         {
+            "enabled": True,
             "datadir": Path(default_conf["datadir"]),
             "strategy": "freqai_test_strat",
             "user_data_dir": Path(tmpdir),