diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
index 4064f4b4c..5040041a6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
@@ -5,11 +5,19 @@ from typing import Any, Iterator
 from bookwyrm import activitypub, models
 from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
 from .abstract_connector import AbstractMinimalConnector
+from .connector_manager import ConnectorException
 
 
 class Connector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
     """this is basically just for search"""
 
+    def __init__(self, identifier: str):
+        if models.SiteSettings.objects.get().disable_federation:
+            raise ConnectorException(
+                "Federation is disabled, cannot load BookWyrm connector", identifier
+            )
+        super().__init__(identifier)
+
     def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id: str) -> models.Edition:
         return activitypub.resolve_remote_id(remote_id, model=models.Edition)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
index ad68af1dc..e5a2399d3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ def first_search_result(
 
 def get_connectors() -> Iterator[abstract_connector.AbstractConnector]:
     """load all connectors"""
-    for info in models.Connector.objects.filter(active=True).order_by("priority").all():
+    queryset = models.Connector.objects.filter(active=True)
+    if models.SiteSettings.objects.get().disable_federation:
+        queryset = queryset.exclude(connector_file="bookwyrm_connector")
+
+    for info in queryset.order_by("priority").all():
         yield load_connector(info)
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py b/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
index c246acb74..a2b35a374 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ class FederationSettings(CustomForm):
             "disable_federation",
         ]
 
+
 class AutoModRuleForm(CustomForm):
     class Meta:
         model = models.AutoMod