diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index 7cecd60..8c0fe99 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ services:
       - JSON_PATH=/app/rptrs.json
       - BMRPTRS_PATH=/app/bmrptrs.json
       - LISTEN_ADDR=:8080
+      - BM_SYNC=true
     restart: unless-stopped
 
 volumes:
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d8fadc0..463f452 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to seed database: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	startBMDeviceSync(db)
+	if os.Getenv("BM_SYNC") == "true" {
+		startBMDeviceSync(db)
+	} else {
+		log.Println("BM device sync disabled (set BM_SYNC=true to enable)")
+	}
 
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
 	mux.HandleFunc("/api/repeaters", handleRepeaters(db))