diff --git a/ArchiSteamFarm/Bot.cs b/ArchiSteamFarm/Bot.cs
index 0fd114b5c..99432e9b4 100755
--- a/ArchiSteamFarm/Bot.cs
+++ b/ArchiSteamFarm/Bot.cs
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ namespace ArchiSteamFarm {
 		internal string SteamParentalPIN { get; private set; } = "0";
 		internal ulong SteamMasterID { get; private set; } = 0;
 		internal ulong SteamMasterClanID { get; private set; } = 0;
+		internal bool StartOnLaunch { get; private set; } = true;
 		internal bool CardDropsRestricted { get; private set; } = false;
 		internal bool FarmOffline { get; private set; } = false;
 		internal bool HandleOfflineMessages { get; private set; } = false;
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ namespace ArchiSteamFarm {
 			}
 		}
 
-		internal Bot(string botName) {
+		internal Bot(string botName, bool initialLaunch = false) {
 			if (Bots.ContainsKey(botName)) {
 				return;
 			}
@@ -155,6 +156,10 @@ namespace ArchiSteamFarm {
 				return;
 			}
 
+			if (initialLaunch && !StartOnLaunch) {
+				return;
+			}
+
 			Bots.AddOrUpdate(BotName, this, (key, value) => this);
 
 			// Initialize
@@ -348,6 +353,9 @@ namespace ArchiSteamFarm {
 							case "SteamMasterClanID":
 								SteamMasterClanID = ulong.Parse(value);
 								break;
+							case "StartOnLaunch":
+								StartOnLaunch = bool.Parse(value);
+								break;
 							case "UseAsfAsMobileAuthenticator":
 								UseAsfAsMobileAuthenticator = bool.Parse(value);
 								break;
diff --git a/ArchiSteamFarm/Program.cs b/ArchiSteamFarm/Program.cs
index 33dc03c7e..0208d37db 100644
--- a/ArchiSteamFarm/Program.cs
+++ b/ArchiSteamFarm/Program.cs
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ namespace ArchiSteamFarm {
 
 			foreach (var configFile in Directory.EnumerateFiles(ConfigDirectory, "*.xml")) {
 				string botName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(configFile);
-				Bot bot = new Bot(botName);
+				Bot bot = new Bot(botName, true);
 				if (!bot.Enabled) {
 					Logging.LogGenericInfo("Not starting this instance because it's disabled in config file", botName);
 				}
diff --git a/ArchiSteamFarm/config/example.xml b/ArchiSteamFarm/config/example.xml
index 7fdb2c202..32c64cee2 100755
--- a/ArchiSteamFarm/config/example.xml
+++ b/ArchiSteamFarm/config/example.xml
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@
 	<!-- If you don't have your own farming group, most likely you don't want to change it, 0 means there is no master group defined -->
 	<SteamMasterClanID type="ulong" value="0"/>
 
+	<!-- This switch defines if bot should automatically start when ASF process is launched -->
+	<!-- Some people might want to avoid that, as they may prefer to issue "!start" command themselves -->
+	<!-- Most likely you want to keep this switch enabled, unless you have a reason -->
+	<StartOnLaunch type="bool" value="true"/>
+
 	<!-- This switch defines if you want to use built-in ASF two-factor-authentication (ASF 2FA) for this account -->
 	<!-- The one and only purpose for this function is automating steam logins and steam trades, so you won't need to enter 2FA codes all the time -->
 	<!-- This however defeats the whole purpose of two-factor-auth, and should be used on alt accounts ONLY -->