diff --git a/example-conf.yml b/example-conf.yml
index d738085..1d964b3 100644
--- a/example-conf.yml
+++ b/example-conf.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ bot:
     # even if the command was called in a channel. This defaults to False.
     #prefer_private_replies: false
 
+    # Determines whether spawning additional services for bots (e.g. Automode, Games) should be
+    # enabled. This defaults to True, unless a network's protocol module doesn't support spawning
+    # extra service bots.
+    #spawn_services: true
+
 login:
     # NOTE: for users migrating from PyLink < 1.1, the old login:user/login:password settings
     # have been deprecated. We strongly recommend migrating to the new "accounts:" block below, as
@@ -575,6 +580,11 @@ automode:
     # the risk of mode overrides being dropped.
     joinmodes: 'o'
 
+    # Determines whether a separate service bot should be spawned for this plugin. This defaults to
+    # True, unless a network's protocol module doesn't support spawning extra service bots.
+    # This option overrides the global "spawn_services" option defined in "bot:".
+    #spawn_service: true
+
 games:
     # Sets the nick of the Games service, if you're using it. This defaults to "games" if not defined.
     nick: Games
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 875832d..01bcab1 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -487,6 +487,11 @@ def registerService(name, *args, **kwargs):
     if name in world.services:
         raise ValueError("Service name %s is already bound!" % name)
 
+    # Allow disabling service spawning either globally or by service.
+    elif name != 'pylink' and not (conf.conf.get(name, {}).get('spawn_service',
+            conf.conf['bot'].get('spawn_services', True))):
+        return world.services['pylink']
+
     world.services[name] = sbot = ServiceBot(name, *args, **kwargs)
     sbot.spawn()
     return sbot