diff --git a/src/rpc.cpp b/src/rpc.cpp
index af062aa..5a1b5cc 100644
--- a/src/rpc.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc.cpp
@@ -1363,6 +1363,12 @@ void RPC::refreshPrice() {
     if  (conn == nullptr)
         return noConnection();
 
+    auto s = Settings::getInstance();
+
+    if (s->getAllowFetchPrices() == false) {
+        qDebug() << "Price fetching disabled";
+        return;
+    }
 
     QString price_feed = "https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=hush&vs_currencies=btc%2Cusd%2Ceur%2Ceth%2Cgbp%2Ccny%2Cjpy%2Cidr%2Crub%2Ccad%2Csgd%2Cchf%2Cinr%2Caud%2Cinr%2Ckrw%2Cthb%2Cnzd%2Czar%2Cvef%2Cxau%2Cxag%2Cvnd%2Csar%2Ctwd%2Caed%2Cars%2Cbdt%2Cbhd%2Cbmd%2Cbrl%2Cclp%2Cczk%2Cdkk%2Chuf%2Cils%2Ckwd%2Clkr%2Cpkr%2Cnok%2Ctry%2Csek%2Cmxn%2Cuah%2Chkd&include_market_cap=true&include_24hr_vol=true&include_24hr_change=true";
     qDebug() << "Requesting price feed data via " << price_feed;
@@ -1376,7 +1382,6 @@ void RPC::refreshPrice() {
     QNetworkReply *reply = conn->restclient->get(req);
     qDebug() << "Created QNetworkReply";
 
-    auto s = Settings::getInstance();
 
     QObject::connect(reply, &QNetworkReply::finished, [=] {
         reply->deleteLater();
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 84c5394..e3fd871 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ void Settings::setCheckForUpdates(bool allow) {
 }
 
 bool Settings::getAllowFetchPrices() {
-    return QSettings().value("options/allowfetchprices", true).toBool();
+    // now defaults to OFF, used to be ON
+    return QSettings().value("options/allowfetchprices", false).toBool();
 }
 
 void Settings::setAllowFetchPrices(bool allow) {