diff --git a/buttsbot.go b/buttsbot.go
index 75a765f..9b601e7 100644
--- a/buttsbot.go
+++ b/buttsbot.go
@@ -68,7 +68,9 @@ func ready(s *discordgo.Session, event *discordgo.Ready) {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 	s.UpdateStatus(0, "with butts!")
-	s.ChannelMessageSend(botChannel, "This isn't a butt...")
+	if os.Getenv("BUTTSBOT_STARTUP_MESSAGE") == "TRUE" {
+		s.ChannelMessageSend(botChannel, "This isn't a butt...")
+	}
 }
 
 func messageCreate(s *discordgo.Session, m *discordgo.MessageCreate) {