diff --git a/snikket_web/__init__.py b/snikket_web/__init__.py
index b3c5015..78e5a8d 100644
--- a/snikket_web/__init__.py
+++ b/snikket_web/__init__.py
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ class AppConfig:
     # Future versions may change this default, and the standard deployment
     # tools may also very well override it.
     max_avatar_size = environ.var(1024*1024, converter=int)
+    show_metrics = environ.bool_var(True)
 
 
 _UPPER_CASE = "".join(map(chr, range(ord("A"), ord("Z")+1)))
@@ -191,6 +192,7 @@ def create_app() -> quart.Quart:
     app.config["AVATAR_CACHE_TTL"] = config.avatar_cache_ttl
     app.config["APPLE_STORE_URL"] = config.apple_store_url
     app.config["MAX_AVATAR_SIZE"] = config.max_avatar_size
+    app.config["SHOW_METRICS"] = config.show_metrics
 
     app.context_processor(proc)
     app.register_error_handler(
diff --git a/snikket_web/admin.py b/snikket_web/admin.py
index d7ca471..65445a0 100644
--- a/snikket_web/admin.py
+++ b/snikket_web/admin.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from quart import (
     request,
     abort,
     flash,
+    current_app,
 )
 
 from flask_babel import lazy_gettext as _l, _
@@ -33,7 +34,11 @@ bp = Blueprint("admin", __name__, url_prefix="/admin")
 @bp.route("/")
 @client.require_admin_session()
 async def index() -> str:
-    return await render_template("admin_home.html")
+    show_metrics = current_app.config["SHOW_METRICS"]
+    return await render_template(
+        "admin_home.html",
+        show_metrics=show_metrics,
+    )
 
 
 class PasswordResetLinkPost(BaseForm):
@@ -575,7 +580,9 @@ def get_system_stats() -> typing.MutableMapping[
         (time.monotonic() - _MONOTONIC_EPOCH)
     )
 
+    mem_total, mem_available = None, None
     load5: typing.Optional[float] = None
+
     try:
         with open("/proc/loadavg") as f:
             stats = f.read().split()
@@ -583,7 +590,6 @@ def get_system_stats() -> typing.MutableMapping[
     except (ValueError, IndexError, TypeError, OSError):
         pass
 
-    mem_total, mem_available = None, None
     try:
         with open("/proc/meminfo") as f:
             for line in f:
@@ -650,37 +656,43 @@ async def system() -> typing.Union[str, quart.Response]:
             # redirect only if not previewing
             return redirect(url_for(".system"))
 
-    version = await client.get_server_version()
-    now = time.time()
-    try:
-        prosody_metrics = await client.get_system_metrics()
-    except quart.exceptions.NotFound:
-        # server does not offer the endpoint for whatever reason -- ignore
-        prosody_metrics = {}
+    version = None
+    now = None
+    show_metrics = current_app.config["SHOW_METRICS"]
+    if show_metrics:
+        version = await client.get_server_version()
+        now = time.time()
+        try:
+            prosody_metrics = await client.get_system_metrics()
+        except quart.exceptions.NotFound:
+            # server does not offer the endpoint for whatever reason -- ignore
+            prosody_metrics = {}
 
-    metrics = get_system_stats()
-    try:
-        prosody_cpu_metrics = prosody_metrics["cpu"]
-    except KeyError:
-        pass
+        metrics = get_system_stats()
+        try:
+            prosody_cpu_metrics = prosody_metrics["cpu"]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            metrics["prosody_cpu"] = (prosody_cpu_metrics["value"] /
+                                      (now - prosody_cpu_metrics["since"]))
+
+        try:
+            metrics["prosody_rss"] = prosody_metrics["memory"]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+
+        try:
+            metrics["prosody_devices"] = prosody_metrics["c2s"]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+
+        for k in list(metrics.keys()):
+            if metrics[k] is None:
+                # so that defaulting in jinja works
+                del metrics[k]
     else:
-        metrics["prosody_cpu"] = (prosody_cpu_metrics["value"] /
-                                  (now - prosody_cpu_metrics["since"]))
-
-    try:
-        metrics["prosody_rss"] = prosody_metrics["memory"]
-    except KeyError:
-        pass
-
-    try:
-        metrics["prosody_devices"] = prosody_metrics["c2s"]
-    except KeyError:
-        pass
-
-    for k in list(metrics.keys()):
-        if metrics[k] is None:
-            # so that defaulting in jinja works
-            del metrics[k]
+        metrics = {}
 
     return await render_template(
         "admin_system.html",
@@ -688,4 +700,5 @@ async def system() -> typing.Union[str, quart.Response]:
         version=_version.version,
         prosody_version=version,
         form=form,
+        show_metrics=show_metrics,
     )
diff --git a/snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html b/snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html
index f76fc03..934b611 100644
--- a/snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html
+++ b/snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@
 		<li>
 			<h2>{% trans %}System health{% endtrans %}</h2>
 			{#- -#}
+			{%- if show_metrics -%}
 			<p>{% trans %}View the server status or send a broadcast message to all users.{% endtrans %}</p>
+			{%- else -%}
+			<p>{% trans %}Send a broadcast message to all users.{% endtrans %}</p>
+			{%- endif -%}
 			{#- -#}
 			<div>{% call standard_button("insights", url_for(".system"), class="primary") %}{% trans %}Manage system{% endtrans %}{% endcall %}</div>
 			{#- -#}
diff --git a/snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html b/snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html
index 6d57c87..c2360fb 100644
--- a/snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html
+++ b/snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 {% from "library.j2" import form_button %}
 {% block content %}
 <h1>{% trans %}Manage system{% endtrans %}</h1>
+{% if show_metrics %}
 <h2>{% trans %}Overall system status{% endtrans %}</h2>
 <div class="elevated el-2">
 	<dl>
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@
 		</dd>
 	</dl>
 </div>
+{% endif %}
 <h2>{% trans %}Broadcast message{% endtrans %}</h2>
 <form method="POST">{{ form.csrf_token }}<div class="form layout-expanded">
 	<p class="form-desc">{% trans %}This form allows you to send a message to all users currently online on your Snikket server. Use it wisely.{% endtrans %}</p>
diff --git a/snikket_web/translations/messages.pot b/snikket_web/translations/messages.pot
index a513ff1..c705aea 100644
--- a/snikket_web/translations/messages.pot
+++ b/snikket_web/translations/messages.pot
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: PROJECT VERSION\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: EMAIL@ADDRESS\n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2021-05-27 17:21+0200\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2021-05-27 17:59+0200\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n"
 "Last-Translator: FULL NAME <EMAIL@ADDRESS>\n"
 "Language-Team: LANGUAGE <LL@li.org>\n"
@@ -17,193 +17,193 @@ msgstr ""
 "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n"
 "Generated-By: Babel 2.9.1\n"
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:61
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:66
 msgid "Limited"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:66 snikket_web/templates/admin_delete_user.html:10
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:71 snikket_web/templates/admin_delete_user.html:10
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_users.html:8
 msgid "Login name"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:70 snikket_web/templates/admin_delete_user.html:12
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:75 snikket_web/templates/admin_delete_user.html:12
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_users.html:9 snikket_web/user.py:61
 msgid "Display name"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:74 snikket_web/templates/admin_edit_user.html:32
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:79 snikket_web/templates/admin_edit_user.html:32
 msgid "Access Level"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:79
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:84
 msgid "Normal user"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:80
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:85
 msgid "Administrator"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:85
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:90
 msgid "Update user"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:89
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:94
 msgid "Create password reset link"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:107
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:112
 msgid "Password reset link created"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:122
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:127
 msgid "User information updated."
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:144
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:149
 msgid "Delete user permanently"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:157
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:162
 msgid "User deleted"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:195
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:200
 msgid "Password reset link not found"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:207
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:212
 msgid "Password reset link deleted"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:227
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:232
 msgid "Invite to circle"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:233
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:238
 msgid "At least one circle must be selected"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:238
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:243
 msgid "Valid for"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:240
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:245
 msgid "One hour"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:241
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:246
 msgid "Twelve hours"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:242
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:247
 msgid "One day"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:243
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:248
 msgid "One week"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:244
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:249
 msgid "Four weeks"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:250 snikket_web/templates/admin_edit_invite.html:17
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:255 snikket_web/templates/admin_edit_invite.html:17
 msgid "Invitation type"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:252 snikket_web/templates/library.j2:116
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:257 snikket_web/templates/library.j2:116
 msgid "Individual"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:253 snikket_web/templates/library.j2:114
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:258 snikket_web/templates/library.j2:114
 msgid "Group"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:259
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:264
 msgid "New invitation link"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:321
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:326
 msgid "Revoke"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:345
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:350
 msgid "Invitation created"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:361
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:366
 msgid "No such invitation exists"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:376
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:381
 msgid "Invitation revoked"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:393 snikket_web/admin.py:441
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:398 snikket_web/admin.py:446
 msgid "Name"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:398 snikket_web/templates/admin_circles.html:47
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:403 snikket_web/templates/admin_circles.html:47
 msgid "Create circle"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:428
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:433
 msgid "Circle created"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:446
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:451
 msgid "Select user"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:451
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:456
 msgid "Update circle"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:455
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:460
 msgid "Delete circle permanently"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:461
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:466
 msgid "Add user"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:477
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:482
 msgid "No such circle exists"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:514
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:519
 msgid "Circle data updated"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:520
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:525
 msgid "Circle deleted"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:531
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:536
 msgid "User added to circle"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:540
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:545
 msgid "User removed from circle"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:610
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:616
 msgid "Message contents"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:616
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:622
 msgid "Only send to online users"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:620
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:626
 msgid "Post to all users"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:624
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:630
 msgid "Send preview to yourself"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/admin.py:646
+#: snikket_web/admin.py:652
 msgid "Announcement sent!"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -780,20 +780,24 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "System health"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:37
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:38
 msgid "View the server status or send a broadcast message to all users."
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:39
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:40
+msgid "Send a broadcast message to all users."
+msgstr ""
+
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:43
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:4
 msgid "Manage system"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:44
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:48
 msgid "Go back to your user's web portal page."
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:46
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_home.html:50
 msgid "Exit admin panel"
 msgstr ""
 
@@ -844,72 +848,72 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Destroy link"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:5
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:6
 msgid "Overall system status"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:8
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:9
 msgid "System load (5 minute average)"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:13
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:21
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:36
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:44
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:59
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:67
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:75
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:14
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:22
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:37
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:45
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:60
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:68
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:76
 msgid "unknown"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:16
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:17
 msgid "Memory use"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:19
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:20
 #, python-format
 msgid ""
 "%(percentage_global)s of %(mem_available)s. Of that, Snikket uses "
 "%(percentage_snikket)s."
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:26
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:27
 msgid "Web portal status"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:29
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:52
-msgid "Version"
-msgstr ""
-
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:30
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:53
-msgid "View all versions"
+msgid "Version"
 msgstr ""
 
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:31
 #: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:54
+msgid "View all versions"
+msgstr ""
+
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:32
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:55
 msgid "Average CPU use"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:39
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:62
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:40
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:63
 msgid "Current memory use"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:49
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:50
 msgid "Snikket server status"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:70
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:71
 msgid "Connected devices"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:80
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:82
 msgid "Broadcast message"
 msgstr ""
 
-#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:82
+#: snikket_web/templates/admin_system.html:84
 msgid ""
 "This form allows you to send a message to all users currently online on "
 "your Snikket server. Use it wisely."