diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 00dd928e..ca15a7a1 100755
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ set(EnableTextmodeStdin 0 CACHE BOOL "Textmode Stdin -> Console bridge (EXPERIME
 set(EnableWarnings 0 CACHE BOOL "Enable compile warnings")
 set(EnableNullGraphics 0 CACHE BOOL "Enable experimental textmode hooks (CRASHES)")
 set(EnableOnlineFeatures 0 CACHE BOOL "Enable online features (WIP)")
+set(EnableIRC 1 CACHE BOOL "Enable IRC for messaging and ignore-cathook")
 
 if(NOT EnableVisuals)
     set(EnableGUI 0)
diff --git a/include/config.h.in b/include/config.h.in
index ae03b13e..6d4e82fd 100755
--- a/include/config.h.in
+++ b/include/config.h.in
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@
 #define TEXTMODE @Textmode@
 #define ENABLE_PROFILER @EnableProfiler@
 #define ENABLE_ONLINE @EnableOnlineFeatures@
+#define ENABLE_IRC @EnableIRC@
diff --git a/include/irc.hpp b/include/irc.hpp
index 59dbc458..39aa2609 100644
--- a/include/irc.hpp
+++ b/include/irc.hpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "config.h"
+#if ENABLE_IRC
 #include <string>
 
 namespace IRC
@@ -5,3 +7,4 @@ namespace IRC
 bool sendmsg(std::string &msg, bool loopback = false);
 void auth(bool reply = false);
 } // namespace IRC
+#endif
diff --git a/src/hooks/CreateMove.cpp b/src/hooks/CreateMove.cpp
index 4d8b928c..1966c6d8 100644
--- a/src/hooks/CreateMove.cpp
+++ b/src/hooks/CreateMove.cpp
@@ -287,7 +287,9 @@ DEFINE_HOOKED_METHOD(CreateMove, bool, void *this_, float input_sample_time, CUs
         //        hacks::tf2::NavBot::Init();
         //        hacks::tf2::NavBot::initonce();
         nav::status = nav::off;
+#if ENABLE_IRC
         IRC::auth();
+#endif
         hacks::tf2::NavBot::init(true);
         firstcm = false;
     }
diff --git a/src/hooks/SendNetMsg.cpp b/src/hooks/SendNetMsg.cpp
index 3f894615..fb1ae534 100644
--- a/src/hooks/SendNetMsg.cpp
+++ b/src/hooks/SendNetMsg.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ DEFINE_HOOKED_METHOD(SendNetMsg, bool, INetChannel *this_, INetMessage &msg, boo
                         if (msg.find("!!!") == 0)
                             sub_val = 3;
                         std::string substrmsg(msg.substr(sub_val));
+#if ENABLE_IRC
                         IRC::sendmsg(substrmsg, true);
+#endif
                         // Do not send message over normal chat.
                         return false;
                     }
diff --git a/src/irc.cpp b/src/irc.cpp
index 25fc2e8b..ec28af26 100644
--- a/src/irc.cpp
+++ b/src/irc.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "config.h"
+#if ENABLE_IRC
 #include "common.hpp"
 #include "irc.hpp"
 #include "CatBot.hpp"
@@ -427,3 +429,4 @@ static CatCommand irc_send("irc_send", "Send message to IRC", [](const CCommand
 static CatCommand irc_auth("irc_auth", "Auth via IRC (Find users on same server)", []() { auth(); });
 
 } // namespace IRC
+#endif