diff --git a/build/NuSpecs/tools/Web.config.install.xdt b/build/NuSpecs/tools/Web.config.install.xdt
index 6579717a60..2b79f95c70 100644
--- a/build/NuSpecs/tools/Web.config.install.xdt
+++ b/build/NuSpecs/tools/Web.config.install.xdt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   <appSettings xdt:Transform="InsertIfMissing" />
   <appSettings>
     <add key="owin:appStartup" value="UmbracoDefaultOwinStartup" xdt:Locator="Match(key)" xdt:Transform="InsertIfMissing" />
+	<add key="Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Enable" value="false" xdt:Locator="Match(key)" xdt:Transform="InsertIfMissing" />
 	<add key="Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.ModelsMode" value="Nothing" xdt:Locator="Match(key)" xdt:Transform="InsertIfMissing" />
   </appSettings>
 
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidator.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidator.cs
index f351721e56..1fdb64c62a 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidator.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidator.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
-using System.Linq;
-using Umbraco.Core;
-using Umbraco.Core.Models.PublishedContent;
-using Umbraco.Web.Editors;
+using Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration;
 using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
 
 namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
@@ -12,70 +7,11 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
     /// Used to validate the aliases for the content type when MB is enabled to ensure that
     /// no illegal aliases are used
     /// </summary>
+    // ReSharper disable once UnusedMember.Global - This is typed scanned
     public class ContentTypeModelValidator : ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<DocumentTypeSave, PropertyTypeBasic>
-    { }
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Used to validate the aliases for the content type when MB is enabled to ensure that
-    /// no illegal aliases are used
-    /// </summary>
-    public class MediaTypeModelValidator : ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<MediaTypeSave, PropertyTypeBasic>
-    { }
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Used to validate the aliases for the content type when MB is enabled to ensure that
-    /// no illegal aliases are used
-    /// </summary>
-    public class MemberTypeModelValidator : ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<MemberTypeSave, MemberPropertyTypeBasic>
-    { }
-
-    public abstract class ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<TModel, TProperty> : EditorValidator<TModel>
-        where TModel : ContentTypeSave<TProperty>
-        where TProperty : PropertyTypeBasic
     {
-        protected override IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(TModel model)
+        public ContentTypeModelValidator(IModelsBuilderConfig config) : base(config)
         {
-            var properties = model.Groups.SelectMany(x => x.Properties)
-                .Where(x => x.Inherited == false)
-                .ToArray();
-
-            foreach (var prop in properties)
-            {
-                var propertyGroup = model.Groups.Single(x => x.Properties.Contains(prop));
-
-                if (model.Alias.ToLowerInvariant() == prop.Alias.ToLowerInvariant())
-                    yield return new ValidationResult(string.Format("With Models Builder enabled, you can't have a property with a the alias \"{0}\" when the content type alias is also \"{0}\".", prop.Alias), new[]
-                    {
-                        string.Format("Groups[{0}].Properties[{1}].Alias", model.Groups.IndexOf(propertyGroup), propertyGroup.Properties.IndexOf(prop))
-                    });
-
-                //we need to return the field name with an index so it's wired up correctly
-                var groupIndex = model.Groups.IndexOf(propertyGroup);
-                var propertyIndex = propertyGroup.Properties.IndexOf(prop);
-
-                var validationResult = ValidateProperty(prop, groupIndex, propertyIndex);
-                if (validationResult != null)
-                    yield return validationResult;
-            }
-        }
-
-        private ValidationResult ValidateProperty(PropertyTypeBasic property, int groupIndex, int propertyIndex)
-        {
-            //don't let them match any properties or methods in IPublishedContent
-            //TODO: There are probably more!
-            var reservedProperties = typeof(IPublishedContent).GetProperties().Select(x => x.Name).ToArray();
-            var reservedMethods = typeof(IPublishedContent).GetMethods().Select(x => x.Name).ToArray();
-
-            var alias = property.Alias;
-
-            if (reservedProperties.InvariantContains(alias) || reservedMethods.InvariantContains(alias))
-                return new ValidationResult(
-                    string.Format("The alias {0} is a reserved term and cannot be used", alias), new[]
-                    {
-                        string.Format("Groups[{0}].Properties[{1}].Alias", groupIndex, propertyIndex)
-                    });
-
-            return null;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidatorBase.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidatorBase.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15ca2cca24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ContentTypeModelValidatorBase.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
+using System.Linq;
+using Umbraco.Core;
+using Umbraco.Core.Models.PublishedContent;
+using Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration;
+using Umbraco.Web.Editors;
+using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
+
+namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
+{
+    public abstract class ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<TModel, TProperty> : EditorValidator<TModel>
+        where TModel : ContentTypeSave<TProperty>
+        where TProperty : PropertyTypeBasic
+    {
+        private readonly IModelsBuilderConfig _config;
+
+        public ContentTypeModelValidatorBase(IModelsBuilderConfig config)
+        {
+            _config = config;
+        }
+
+        protected override IEnumerable<ValidationResult> Validate(TModel model)
+        {
+            //don't do anything if we're not enabled
+            if (!_config.Enable) yield break;
+
+            var properties = model.Groups.SelectMany(x => x.Properties)
+                .Where(x => x.Inherited == false)
+                .ToArray();
+
+            foreach (var prop in properties)
+            {
+                var propertyGroup = model.Groups.Single(x => x.Properties.Contains(prop));
+
+                if (model.Alias.ToLowerInvariant() == prop.Alias.ToLowerInvariant())
+                    yield return new ValidationResult(string.Format("With Models Builder enabled, you can't have a property with a the alias \"{0}\" when the content type alias is also \"{0}\".", prop.Alias), new[]
+                    {
+                        $"Groups[{model.Groups.IndexOf(propertyGroup)}].Properties[{propertyGroup.Properties.IndexOf(prop)}].Alias"
+                    });
+
+                //we need to return the field name with an index so it's wired up correctly
+                var groupIndex = model.Groups.IndexOf(propertyGroup);
+                var propertyIndex = propertyGroup.Properties.IndexOf(prop);
+
+                var validationResult = ValidateProperty(prop, groupIndex, propertyIndex);
+                if (validationResult != null)
+                    yield return validationResult;
+            }
+        }
+
+        private ValidationResult ValidateProperty(PropertyTypeBasic property, int groupIndex, int propertyIndex)
+        {
+            //don't let them match any properties or methods in IPublishedContent
+            //TODO: There are probably more!
+            var reservedProperties = typeof(IPublishedContent).GetProperties().Select(x => x.Name).ToArray();
+            var reservedMethods = typeof(IPublishedContent).GetMethods().Select(x => x.Name).ToArray();
+
+            var alias = property.Alias;
+
+            if (reservedProperties.InvariantContains(alias) || reservedMethods.InvariantContains(alias))
+                return new ValidationResult(
+                    $"The alias {alias} is a reserved term and cannot be used", new[]
+                    {
+                        $"Groups[{groupIndex}].Properties[{propertyIndex}].Alias"
+                    });
+
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/DashboardReport.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/DashboardReport.cs
index e4c45aaf3e..25ddc838e8 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/DashboardReport.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/DashboardReport.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
 
         public string Text()
         {
+            if (!_config.Enable)
+                return "Version: " + ApiVersion.Current.Version + "<br />&nbsp;<br />ModelsBuilder is disabled<br />(the .Enable key is missing, or its value is not 'true').";
+
             var sb = new StringBuilder();
 
             sb.Append("Version: ");
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MediaTypeModelValidator.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MediaTypeModelValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9dc1ea6c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MediaTypeModelValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+using Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration;
+using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
+
+namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Used to validate the aliases for the content type when MB is enabled to ensure that
+    /// no illegal aliases are used
+    /// </summary>
+    // ReSharper disable once UnusedMember.Global - This is typed scanned
+    public class MediaTypeModelValidator : ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<MediaTypeSave, PropertyTypeBasic>
+    {
+        public MediaTypeModelValidator(IModelsBuilderConfig config) : base(config)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MemberTypeModelValidator.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MemberTypeModelValidator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d0a98eeab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/MemberTypeModelValidator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+using Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration;
+using Umbraco.Web.Models.ContentEditing;
+
+namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Used to validate the aliases for the content type when MB is enabled to ensure that
+    /// no illegal aliases are used
+    /// </summary>
+    // ReSharper disable once UnusedMember.Global - This is typed scanned
+    public class MemberTypeModelValidator : ContentTypeModelValidatorBase<MemberTypeSave, MemberPropertyTypeBasic>
+    {
+        public MemberTypeModelValidator(IModelsBuilderConfig config) : base(config)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ModelsBuilderDashboardController.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ModelsBuilderDashboardController.cs
index 44260d6719..1d9de265e9 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ModelsBuilderDashboardController.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/BackOffice/ModelsBuilderDashboardController.cs
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.BackOffice
         {
             return new Dashboard
             {
-                Enable = true,
+                Enable = _config.Enable,
                 Text = _dashboardReport.Text(),
                 CanGenerate = _dashboardReport.CanGenerate(),
                 OutOfDateModels = _dashboardReport.AreModelsOutOfDate(),
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Compose/ModelsBuilderComponent.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Compose/ModelsBuilderComponent.cs
index be73393994..0e41c9ac62 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Compose/ModelsBuilderComponent.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Compose/ModelsBuilderComponent.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Compose
 
             ContentModelBinder.ModelBindingException += ContentModelBinder_ModelBindingException;
 
-            FileService.SavingTemplate += FileService_SavingTemplate;
+            if (_config.Enable)
+                FileService.SavingTemplate += FileService_SavingTemplate;
 
             if (_config.ModelsMode.IsLiveNotPure())
                 _liveModelsProvider.Install();
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Compose
         {
             var settings = new Dictionary<string, object>
             {
-                {"enabled", true}
+                {"enabled", _config.Enable}
             };
 
             return settings;
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/IModelsBuilderConfig.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/IModelsBuilderConfig.cs
index d8a81f0458..7e96aec60e 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/IModelsBuilderConfig.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/IModelsBuilderConfig.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 {
     public interface IModelsBuilderConfig
     {
+        bool Enable { get; }
         bool AcceptUnsafeModelsDirectory { get; }
         int DebugLevel { get; }
         bool EnableFactory { get; }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsBuilderConfig.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsBuilderConfig.cs
index 881c4f97b8..c6bccdcf87 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsBuilderConfig.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsBuilderConfig.cs
@@ -22,11 +22,18 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration
         {
             const string prefix = "Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.";
 
+            // giant kill switch, default: false
+            // must be explicitely set to true for anything else to happen
+            Enable = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings[prefix + "Enable"] == "true";
+
             // ensure defaults are initialized for tests
             ModelsNamespace = DefaultModelsNamespace;
             ModelsDirectory = IOHelper.MapPath(DefaultModelsDirectory);
             DebugLevel = 0;
 
+            // stop here, everything is false
+            if (!Enable) return;
+
             // mode
             var modelsMode = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings[prefix + "ModelsMode"];
             if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modelsMode))
@@ -94,6 +101,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ModelsBuilderConfig"/> class.
         /// </summary>
         public ModelsBuilderConfig(
+            bool enable = false,
             ModelsMode modelsMode = ModelsMode.Nothing,
             string modelsNamespace = null,
             bool enableFactory = true,
@@ -102,6 +110,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration
             bool acceptUnsafeModelsDirectory = false,
             int debugLevel = 0)
         {
+            Enable = enable;
             ModelsMode = modelsMode;
 
             ModelsNamespace = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(modelsNamespace) ? DefaultModelsNamespace : modelsNamespace;
@@ -143,6 +152,15 @@ namespace Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.Configuration
             throw new ConfigurationErrorsException($"Invalid models directory \"{config}\".");
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether the whole models experience is enabled.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>
+        ///     <para>If this is false then absolutely nothing happens.</para>
+        ///     <para>Default value is <c>false</c> which means that unless we have this setting, nothing happens.</para>
+        /// </remarks>
+        public bool Enable { get; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the models mode.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsMode.cs b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsMode.cs
index 145508991a..e0286fdab1 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsMode.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Configuration/ModelsMode.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
         /// <summary>
         /// Do not generate models.
         /// </summary>
-        Nothing = 0, // default value //TODO: This doesn't make sense since we cannot actualy disable MB since Umbraco would die
+        Nothing = 0, // default value 
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Generate models in memory.
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.csproj b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.csproj
index 4c22566c05..c09703ecfb 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.csproj
+++ b/src/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded/Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Embedded.csproj
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@
       <Link>Properties\SolutionInfo.cs</Link>
     </Compile>
     <Compile Include="ApiVersion.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="BackOffice\ContentTypeModelValidatorBase.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="BackOffice\MediaTypeModelValidator.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="BackOffice\MemberTypeModelValidator.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Building\Builder.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Building\PropertyModel.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Building\TextBuilder.cs" />
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/web.Template.config b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/web.Template.config
index 8759fc6459..f0abbfde52 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/web.Template.config
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/web.Template.config
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 
         <add key="owin:appStartup" value="UmbracoDefaultOwinStartup" />
 
+        <add key="Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.Enable" value="true" />
         <add key="Umbraco.ModelsBuilder.ModelsMode" value="PureLive" />
     </appSettings>
 
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/IEditorValidator.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/IEditorValidator.cs
index d469d9d9eb..2d655e3506 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/IEditorValidator.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Editors/IEditorValidator.cs
@@ -14,9 +14,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Editors
     //              initialized with all IEditorValidator instances
     //
     // validation is used exclusively in ContentTypeControllerBase
-    // the whole thing is internal at the moment, never released
-    // and, there are no IEditorValidator implementation in Core
-    // so... this all mechanism is basically useless
+    // currently the only implementations are for Models Builder.
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Provides a general object validator.