diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9a0958b93..032b480fb 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -2253,16 +2253,16 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES(MesaOpenCL, [MesaOpenCL],
 	])
 ])
 
-AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether to enable use of any found OpenCL)
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(opencl, RB_HELP_STRING([--enable-opencl], [Enable OpenCL support]),
+AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether to disable use of any found OpenCL)
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(opencl, RB_HELP_STRING([--disable-opencl], [Disable OpenCL support]),
 [
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-	enable_opencl="yes"
-	opencl_enable="enabled"
-], [
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 	enable_opencl="no"
 	opencl_enable="disabled"
+], [
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	enable_opencl="yes"
+	opencl_enable="enabled"
 ])
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL([OPENCL], [test "x$have_opencl" = "xyes" && test "x$enable_opencl" = "xyes" ])
diff --git a/ircd/cl.cc b/ircd/cl.cc
index c58577e8f..da8ada84a 100644
--- a/ircd/cl.cc
+++ b/ircd/cl.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ namespace ircd::cl
 	static int throw_on_error(const int &code);
 	template<class func, class... args> static int call(func&&, args&&...);
 	template<class T = string_view, class F, class id, class param> static T info(F&&, const id &, const param &, const mutable_buffer &);
+
+	extern conf::item<bool> enable;
 }
 
 // Runtime state
@@ -79,12 +81,30 @@ ircd::cl::version_abi
 	"OpenCL", info::versions::ABI
 };
 
+decltype(ircd::cl::enable)
+ircd::cl::enable
+{
+	{ "name",      "ircd.cl.enable"  },
+	{ "default",   false             },
+	{ "persist",   false             },
+};
+
 //
 // init
 //
 
 ircd::cl::init::init()
 {
+	if(!enable)
+	{
+		log::dwarning
+		{
+			log, "OpenCL hardware acceleration is not available or enabled."
+		};
+
+		return;
+	}
+
 	const ctx::posix::enable_pthread enable_pthread;
 
 	// Setup options