diff --git a/roles/synapse/defaults/main.json b/roles/synapse/defaults/main.json
index bc84eb6..b9b9a60 100644
--- a/roles/synapse/defaults/main.json
+++ b/roles/synapse/defaults/main.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 	"var_synapse_database_data_postgresql_schema": "synapse",
 	"var_synapse_element_url": "https://element.example.org",
 	"var_synapse_title": "Example | Matrix",
+	"var_synapse_federation_enable": true,
 	"var_synapse_federation_whitelist": [],
 	"var_synapse_password_strict_policy": true,
 	"var_synapse_registration_shared_secret": "REPLACE_ME",
diff --git a/roles/synapse/templates/homeserver.yaml.j2 b/roles/synapse/templates/homeserver.yaml.j2
index f5c310c..d46f115 100644
--- a/roles/synapse/templates/homeserver.yaml.j2
+++ b/roles/synapse/templates/homeserver.yaml.j2
@@ -42,8 +42,10 @@ listeners:
     resources:
       - names: [client]
         compress: true
+{% if var_synapse_federation_enable %}
       - names: [federation]
         compress: false
+{% endif %}
 
 federation_domain_whitelist: {{var_synapse_federation_whitelist | to_yaml}}