diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8877c23..0fe72db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -296,22 +296,23 @@ There are a few optional environment variables available for customizing a Whoog
 - With `docker-compose`: Uncomment the `env_file` option
 - With `docker build/run`: Add `--env-file ./whoogle.env` to your command
 
-| Variable           | Description                                                                               |
-| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| WHOOGLE_DOTENV     | Load environment variables in `whoogle.env`                                               |
-| WHOOGLE_USER       | The username for basic auth. WHOOGLE_PASS must also be set if used.                       |
-| WHOOGLE_PASS       | The password for basic auth. WHOOGLE_USER must also be set if used.                       |
-| WHOOGLE_PROXY_USER | The username of the proxy server.                                                         |
-| WHOOGLE_PROXY_PASS | The password of the proxy server.                                                         |
-| WHOOGLE_PROXY_TYPE | The type of the proxy server. Can be "socks5", "socks4", or "http".                       |
-| WHOOGLE_PROXY_LOC  | The location of the proxy server (host or ip).                                            |
-| EXPOSE_PORT        | The port where Whoogle will be exposed.                                                   |
-| HTTPS_ONLY         | Enforce HTTPS. (See [here](https://github.com/benbusby/whoogle-search#https-enforcement)) |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_TW     | The twitter.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.      |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_YT     | The youtube.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.      |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_IG     | The instagram.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.    |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_RD     | The reddit.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_TL     | The Google Translate alternative to use. This is used for all "translate ____" searches.  |
+| Variable             | Description                                                                               |
+| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| WHOOGLE_DOTENV       | Load environment variables in `whoogle.env`                                               |
+| WHOOGLE_USER         | The username for basic auth. WHOOGLE_PASS must also be set if used.                       |
+| WHOOGLE_PASS         | The password for basic auth. WHOOGLE_USER must also be set if used.                       |
+| WHOOGLE_PROXY_USER   | The username of the proxy server.                                                         |
+| WHOOGLE_PROXY_PASS   | The password of the proxy server.                                                         |
+| WHOOGLE_PROXY_TYPE   | The type of the proxy server. Can be "socks5", "socks4", or "http".                       |
+| WHOOGLE_PROXY_LOC    | The location of the proxy server (host or ip).                                            |
+| EXPOSE_PORT          | The port where Whoogle will be exposed.                                                   |
+| HTTPS_ONLY           | Enforce HTTPS. (See [here](https://github.com/benbusby/whoogle-search#https-enforcement)) |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_TW       | The twitter.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.      |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_YT       | The youtube.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.      |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_IG       | The instagram.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.    |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_RD       | The reddit.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_TL       | The Google Translate alternative to use. This is used for all "translate ____" searches.  |
+| WHOOGLE_AUTOCOMPLETE | Controls visibility of autocomplete/search suggestions. Default on -- use '0' to disable  |
 
 ### Config Environment Variables
 These environment variables allow setting default config values, but can be overwritten manually by using the home page config menu. These allow a shortcut for destroying/rebuilding an instance to the same config state every time.
diff --git a/app/models/config.py b/app/models/config.py
index f865a17..7d0da92 100644
--- a/app/models/config.py
+++ b/app/models/config.py
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
+from app.utils.misc import read_config_bool
 from flask import current_app
 import os
 
 
 class Config:
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        def read_config_bool(var: str) -> bool:
-            val = os.getenv(var, '0')
-            if val.isdigit():
-                return bool(int(val))
-            return False
-
         app_config = current_app.config
         self.url = os.getenv('WHOOGLE_CONFIG_URL', '')
         self.lang_search = os.getenv('WHOOGLE_CONFIG_SEARCH_LANGUAGE', '')
diff --git a/app/routes.py b/app/routes.py
index b5bcca2..35cff9b 100644
--- a/app/routes.py
+++ b/app/routes.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from app import app
 from app.models.config import Config
 from app.request import Request, TorError
 from app.utils.bangs import resolve_bang
+from app.utils.misc import read_config_bool
 from app.utils.session import generate_user_key, valid_user_session
 from app.utils.search import *
 
@@ -178,6 +179,10 @@ def search_html():
 
 @app.route('/autocomplete', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def autocomplete():
+    ac_var = 'WHOOGLE_AUTOCOMPLETE'
+    if os.getenv(ac_var) and not read_config_bool(ac_var):
+        return jsonify({})
+
     q = g.request_params.get('q')
     if not q:
         # FF will occasionally (incorrectly) send the q field without a
diff --git a/app/utils/misc.py b/app/utils/misc.py
index 9327826..01e6935 100644
--- a/app/utils/misc.py
+++ b/app/utils/misc.py
@@ -8,3 +8,10 @@ def gen_file_hash(path: str, static_file: str) -> str:
     filename_split = os.path.splitext(static_file)
 
     return filename_split[0] + '.' + file_hash + filename_split[-1]
+
+
+def read_config_bool(var: str) -> bool:
+    val = os.getenv(var, '0')
+    if val.isdigit():
+        return bool(int(val))
+    return False