diff --git a/aprsd/cmds/dev.py b/aprsd/cmds/dev.py
index 0754b6d..dc760e8 100644
--- a/aprsd/cmds/dev.py
+++ b/aprsd/cmds/dev.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def test_plugin(
 
     pm = plugin.PluginManager()
     if load_all:
-        pm.setup_plugins()
+        pm.setup_plugins(load_help_plugin=CONF.load_help_plugin)
     obj = pm._create_class(plugin_path, plugin.APRSDPluginBase)
     if not obj:
         click.echo(ctx.get_help())
diff --git a/aprsd/cmds/server.py b/aprsd/cmds/server.py
index 6f66ddb..176d592 100644
--- a/aprsd/cmds/server.py
+++ b/aprsd/cmds/server.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def server(ctx, flush):
     # log file output.
     LOG.info("Loading Plugin Manager and registering plugins")
     plugin_manager = plugin.PluginManager()
-    plugin_manager.setup_plugins()
+    plugin_manager.setup_plugins(load_help_plugin=CONF.load_help_plugin)
 
     # Dump all the config options now.
     CONF.log_opt_values(LOG, logging.DEBUG)
diff --git a/aprsd/conf/common.py b/aprsd/conf/common.py
index 256c730..19b02aa 100644
--- a/aprsd/conf/common.py
+++ b/aprsd/conf/common.py
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ aprsd_opts = [
         default=True,
         help="Set this to False, to disable logging of packets to the log file.",
     ),
+    cfg.BoolOpt(
+        "load_help_plugin",
+        default=True,
+        help="Set this to False to disable the help plugin.",
+    ),
     cfg.BoolOpt(
         "enable_sending_ack_packets",
         default=True,
diff --git a/aprsd/plugin.py b/aprsd/plugin.py
index 9a8ae64..20d8d5e 100644
--- a/aprsd/plugin.py
+++ b/aprsd/plugin.py
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ class PluginManager:
     def reload_plugins(self):
         with self.lock:
             del self._pluggy_pm
-            self.setup_plugins()
+            self.setup_plugins(load_help_plugin=CONF.load_help_plugin)
 
     def setup_plugins(
         self, load_help_plugin=True,
diff --git a/aprsd/threads/rx.py b/aprsd/threads/rx.py
index c770096..b75f520 100644
--- a/aprsd/threads/rx.py
+++ b/aprsd/threads/rx.py
@@ -333,8 +333,15 @@ class APRSDPluginProcessPacketThread(APRSDProcessPacketThread):
             # If the message was for us and we didn't have a
             # response, then we send a usage statement.
             if to_call == CONF.callsign and not replied:
-                LOG.warning("Sending help!")
-                message_text = "Unknown command! Send 'help' message for help"
+
+                # Tailor the messages accordingly
+                if CONF.load_help_plugin:
+                    LOG.warning("Sending help!")
+                    message_text = "Unknown command! Send 'help' message for help"
+                else:
+                    LOG.warning("Unknown command!")
+                    message_text = "Unknown command!"
+
                 tx.send(
                     packets.MessagePacket(
                         from_call=CONF.callsign,