diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/resources/reference.conf b/modules/restserver/src/main/resources/reference.conf
index c9ec753e..70a7062c 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/resources/reference.conf
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/resources/reference.conf
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ docspell.server {
   # In order to keep this low, a limit can be defined here.
   max-note-length = 180
 
+
+  # This defines whether the classification form in the collective
+  # settings is displayed or not. If all joex instances have document
+  # classification disabled, it makes sense to hide its settings from
+  # users.
+  show-classification-settings = true
+
   # Authentication.
   auth {
 
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/Config.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/Config.scala
index b665e8e7..bda7ebc7 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/Config.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/Config.scala
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ case class Config(
     bind: Config.Bind,
     backend: BackendConfig,
     auth: Login.Config,
+    showClassificationSettings: Boolean,
     integrationEndpoint: Config.IntegrationEndpoint,
     maxItemPageSize: Int,
     maxNoteLength: Int,
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/Flags.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/Flags.scala
index b430e91a..98134f2a 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/Flags.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/Flags.scala
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ case class Flags(
     integrationEnabled: Boolean,
     fullTextSearchEnabled: Boolean,
     maxPageSize: Int,
-    maxNoteLength: Int
+    maxNoteLength: Int,
+    showClassificationSettings: Boolean
 )
 
 object Flags {
@@ -30,7 +31,8 @@ object Flags {
       cfg.integrationEndpoint.enabled,
       cfg.fullTextSearch.enabled,
       cfg.maxItemPageSize,
-      cfg.maxNoteLength
+      cfg.maxNoteLength,
+      cfg.showClassificationSettings
     )
 
   implicit val jsonEncoder: Encoder[Flags] =
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/CollectiveSettingsForm.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/CollectiveSettingsForm.elm
index 1efef12d..c73217e5 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/CollectiveSettingsForm.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/CollectiveSettingsForm.elm
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ view flags settings model =
         , h3
             [ classList
                 [ ( "ui dividing header", True )
-                , ( "invisible hidden", False )
+                , ( "invisible hidden", not flags.config.showClassificationSettings )
                 ]
             ]
             [ text "Document Classifier"
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ view flags settings model =
         , div
             [ classList
                 [ ( "field", True )
-                , ( "invisible hidden", False )
+                , ( "invisible hidden", not flags.config.showClassificationSettings )
                 ]
             ]
             [ Html.map ClassifierSettingMsg
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/Flags.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/Flags.elm
index 052c8aa3..279de096 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/Flags.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/Flags.elm
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ type alias Config =
     , fullTextSearchEnabled : Bool
     , maxPageSize : Int
     , maxNoteLength : Int
+    , showClassificationSettings : Bool
     }
 
 
diff --git a/nix/module-server.nix b/nix/module-server.nix
index b75ad86e..cf0bb195 100644
--- a/nix/module-server.nix
+++ b/nix/module-server.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ let
     base-url = "http://localhost:7880";
     max-item-page-size = 200;
     max-note-length = 180;
+    show-classification-settings = true;
     bind = {
       address = "localhost";
       port = 7880;
@@ -136,6 +137,17 @@ in {
         '';
       };
 
+      show-classification-settings = mkOption {
+        type = types.bool;
+        default = defaults.show-classification-settings;
+        description = ''
+          This defines whether the classification form in the collective
+          settings is displayed or not. If all joex instances have document
+          classification disabled, it makes sense to hide its settings from
+          users.
+        '';
+      };
+
       bind = mkOption {
         type = types.submodule({
           options = {