diff --git a/config/bridge.go b/config/bridge.go
index 4fc7c02..75656e2 100644
--- a/config/bridge.go
+++ b/config/bridge.go
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ type BridgeConfig struct {
 	PinnedTag                     string `yaml:"pinned_tag"`
 	TagOnlyOnCreate               bool   `yaml:"tag_only_on_create"`
 	MarkReadOnlyOnCreate          bool   `yaml:"mark_read_only_on_create"`
+	EnableStatusBroadcast         bool   `yaml:"enable_status_broadcast"`
 
 	WhatsappThumbnail bool `yaml:"whatsapp_thumbnail"`
 
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ func (bc *BridgeConfig) setDefaults() {
 	bc.InviteOwnPuppetForBackfilling = true
 	bc.PrivateChatPortalMeta = false
 	bc.BridgeNotices = true
+	bc.EnableStatusBroadcast = true
 }
 
 type umBridgeConfig BridgeConfig
diff --git a/example-config.yaml b/example-config.yaml
index 2fbf2ec..2971e33 100644
--- a/example-config.yaml
+++ b/example-config.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ homeserver:
 
     # The URL to push real-time bridge status to.
     # If set, the bridge will make POST requests to this URL whenever a user's whatsapp connection state changes.
-    # The bridge will use the as_token to authorize requests.
+    # The bridge will use the appservice as_token to authorize requests.
     status_endpoint: null
 
 # Application service host/registration related details.
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ bridge:
     pinned_tag: null
     # Whether or not mute status and tags should only be bridged when the portal room is created.
     tag_only_on_create: true
+    # Whether or not WhatsApp status messages should be bridged into a Matrix room.
+    # Disabling this won't affect already created status broadcast rooms.
+    enable_status_broadcast: true
 
     # Whether or not thumbnails from WhatsApp should be sent.
     # They're disabled by default due to very low resolution.
diff --git a/matrix.go b/matrix.go
index b413e61..28376be 100644
--- a/matrix.go
+++ b/matrix.go
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func (mx *MatrixHandler) handlePrivatePortal(roomID id.RoomID, inviter *User, pu
 
 func (mx *MatrixHandler) createPrivatePortalFromInvite(roomID id.RoomID, inviter *User, puppet *Puppet, portal *Portal) {
 	portal.MXID = roomID
-	portal.Topic = "WhatsApp private chat"
+	portal.Topic = PrivateChatTopic
 	_, _ = portal.MainIntent().SetRoomTopic(portal.MXID, portal.Topic)
 	if portal.bridge.Config.Bridge.PrivateChatPortalMeta {
 		portal.Name = puppet.Displayname
diff --git a/portal.go b/portal.go
index 48cf5ee..35afc87 100644
--- a/portal.go
+++ b/portal.go
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ const StatusBroadcastTopic = "WhatsApp status updates from your contacts"
 const StatusBroadcastName = "WhatsApp Status Broadcast"
 const BroadcastTopic = "WhatsApp broadcast list"
 const UnnamedBroadcastName = "Unnamed broadcast list"
+const PrivateChatTopic = "WhatsApp private chat"
+var ErrStatusBroadcastDisabled = errors.New("status bridging is disabled")
 
 func (bridge *Bridge) GetPortalByMXID(mxid id.RoomID) *Portal {
 	bridge.portalsLock.Lock()
@@ -655,7 +657,7 @@ func (portal *Portal) ensureUserInvited(user *User) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (portal *Portal) Sync(user *User, contact whatsapp.Contact) {
+func (portal *Portal) Sync(user *User, contact whatsapp.Contact) bool {
 	portal.log.Infoln("Syncing portal for", user.MXID)
 
 	if user.IsRelaybot {
@@ -670,7 +672,7 @@ func (portal *Portal) Sync(user *User, contact whatsapp.Contact) {
 		err := portal.CreateMatrixRoom(user)
 		if err != nil {
 			portal.log.Errorln("Failed to create portal room:", err)
-			return
+			return false
 		}
 	} else {
 		portal.ensureUserInvited(user)
@@ -685,6 +687,7 @@ func (portal *Portal) Sync(user *User, contact whatsapp.Contact) {
 		portal.Update()
 		portal.UpdateBridgeInfo()
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
 func (portal *Portal) GetBasePowerLevels() *event.PowerLevelsEventContent {
@@ -1066,10 +1069,14 @@ func (portal *Portal) CreateMatrixRoom(user *User) error {
 		} else {
 			portal.Name = ""
 		}
-		portal.Topic = "WhatsApp private chat"
+		portal.Topic = PrivateChatTopic
 	} else if portal.IsStatusBroadcastList() {
-		portal.Name = "WhatsApp Status Broadcast"
-		portal.Topic = "WhatsApp status updates from your contacts"
+		if !portal.bridge.Config.Bridge.EnableStatusBroadcast {
+			portal.log.Debugln("Status bridging is disabled in config, not creating room after all")
+			return ErrStatusBroadcastDisabled
+		}
+		portal.Name = StatusBroadcastName
+		portal.Topic = StatusBroadcastTopic
 	} else if portal.IsBroadcastList() {
 		var err error
 		broadcastMetadata, err = user.Conn.GetBroadcastMetadata(portal.Key.JID)
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index 7f8493e..eafd2ce 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ type CustomReadReceipt struct {
 }
 
 func (user *User) syncChatDoublePuppetDetails(doublePuppet *Puppet, chat Chat, justCreated bool) {
-	if doublePuppet == nil || doublePuppet.CustomIntent() == nil {
+	if doublePuppet == nil || doublePuppet.CustomIntent() == nil || len(chat.Portal.MXID) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 	intent := doublePuppet.CustomIntent()
@@ -776,7 +776,10 @@ func (user *User) syncChatDoublePuppetDetails(doublePuppet *Puppet, chat Chat, j
 func (user *User) syncPortal(chat Chat) {
 	// Don't sync unless chat meta sync is enabled or portal doesn't exist
 	if user.bridge.Config.Bridge.ChatMetaSync || len(chat.Portal.MXID) == 0 {
-		chat.Portal.Sync(user, chat.Contact)
+		failedToCreate := chat.Portal.Sync(user, chat.Contact)
+		if failedToCreate {
+			return
+		}
 	}
 	err := chat.Portal.BackfillHistory(user, chat.LastMessageTime)
 	if err != nil {