diff --git a/llarp/exit/session.hpp b/llarp/exit/session.hpp
index b70d34bcd..fd36ce3da 100644
--- a/llarp/exit/session.hpp
+++ b/llarp/exit/session.hpp
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ namespace llarp
       util::StatusObject
       ExtractStatus() const override;
 
+      bool
+      ShouldBundleRC() const override
+      {
+        // TODO: make configurable
+        return false;
+      }
+
       void
       HandlePathDied(llarp::path::Path* p) override;
 
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
index 196159725..33f5c3e86 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ namespace llarp
       // current hop
       auto& hop   = ctx->path->hops[ctx->idx];
       auto& frame = ctx->LRCM.frames[ctx->idx];
+
       // generate key
       ctx->crypto->encryption_keygen(hop.commkey);
       hop.nonce.Randomize();
@@ -80,8 +81,9 @@ namespace llarp
       else
       {
         hop.upstream = ctx->path->hops[ctx->idx].rc.pubkey;
-        record.nextRC =
-            std::make_unique< RouterContact >(ctx->path->hops[ctx->idx].rc);
+        if(ctx->pathset->ShouldBundleRC())
+          record.nextRC =
+              std::make_unique< RouterContact >(ctx->path->hops[ctx->idx].rc);
       }
       // build record
 
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
index 87dc6d4b1..cd787a899 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ namespace llarp
       virtual bool
       ShouldBuildMore(llarp_time_t now) const override;
 
+      /// should we bundle RCs in builds?
+      virtual bool
+      ShouldBundleRC() const = 0;
+
       /// return true if we hit our soft limit for building paths too fast
       bool
       BuildCooldownHit(llarp_time_t now) const;
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.hpp b/llarp/router/router.hpp
index c564ddb9f..2073db199 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.hpp
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ namespace llarp
     EnsureEncryptionKey();
 
     bool
-    ConnectionToRouterAllowed(const RouterID &router) const;
+    ConnectionToRouterAllowed(const RouterID &router) const override;
 
     bool
     SaveRC();
diff --git a/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp b/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
index 9175b09c2..73f6c8c78 100644
--- a/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
+++ b/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include <router/abstractrouter.hpp>
 #include <service/protocol.hpp>
 #include <util/logic.hpp>
-
+#include <util/str.hpp>
 #include <util/buffer.hpp>
 
 namespace llarp
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ namespace llarp
         if(val > 0)
           m_MinPathLatency = val;
       }
+      if(k == "bundle-rc")
+      {
+        m_BundleRC = IsTrueValue(v.c_str());
+      }
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -812,6 +816,12 @@ namespace llarp
                                        self->m_IsolatedLogic);
     }
 
+    bool
+    Endpoint::ShouldBundleRC() const
+    {
+      return m_BundleRC;
+    }
+
     void
     Endpoint::PutNewOutboundContext(const llarp::service::IntroSet& introset)
     {
diff --git a/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp b/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
index b80f9364c..7d10c96c1 100644
--- a/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
+++ b/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
@@ -214,6 +214,9 @@ namespace llarp
 
       using PendingBufferQueue = std::queue< PendingBuffer >;
 
+      bool
+      ShouldBundleRC() const override;
+
       struct SendContext
       {
         SendContext(const ServiceInfo& ident, const Introduction& intro,
@@ -280,6 +283,12 @@ namespace llarp
         util::StatusObject
         ExtractStatus() const override;
 
+        bool
+        ShouldBundleRC() const override
+        {
+          return m_Endpoint->ShouldBundleRC();
+        }
+
         bool
         Stop() override;
 
@@ -494,6 +503,7 @@ namespace llarp
       std::string m_Keyfile;
       std::string m_Name;
       std::string m_NetNS;
+      bool m_BundleRC = false;
 
       using PendingTraffic =
           std::unordered_map< Address, PendingBufferQueue, Address::Hash >;