diff --git a/packages/cli/config/schema.ts b/packages/cli/config/schema.ts
index a167048e61..4ffde542aa 100644
--- a/packages/cli/config/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/config/schema.ts
@@ -577,6 +577,12 @@ export const schema = {
 	},
 
 	publicApiEndpoints: {
+		disable: {
+			format: Boolean,
+			default: false,
+			env: 'N8N_PUBLIC_API_DISABLE',
+			doc: 'Whether to disable the Public API',
+		},
 		path: {
 			format: String,
 			default: 'api',
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
index 48e34f0935..b33138493b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/Server.ts
@@ -581,8 +581,9 @@ class App {
 			return ResponseHelper.sendSuccessResponse(res, {}, true, 204);
 		});
 
-		this.app.use(`/${this.publicApiEndpoint}`, ...(await loadPublicApiVersions()));
-
+		if (!config.getEnv('publicApiEndpoints.disable')) {
+			this.app.use(`/${this.publicApiEndpoint}`, ...(await loadPublicApiVersions()));
+		}
 		// Parse cookies for easier access
 		this.app.use(cookieParser());