diff --git a/.envrc.sample b/.envrc.sample
index e61bcef..c1075c0 100644
--- a/.envrc.sample
+++ b/.envrc.sample
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ export EMAIL_SENDER=foodsoft@biobulkbende.org
 export EMAIL_REPLY=foodsoft@biobulkbende.org
 export ERROR_EMAIL=systems@biobulkbende.org
 
+# export COMPOSE_FILE="compose.yml:compose.sharedlists.yml"
+export ENABLE_SHARED_LISTS=0
 export SHARED_LISTS_DB_TYPE=mysql2
 export SHARED_LISTS_HOST=order.voedselcollectief.org
 export SHARED_LISTS_DB_NAME=sharedlists
diff --git a/app_config.yml.tmpl b/app_config.yml.tmpl
index 04bb7a0..e06ca0e 100644
--- a/app_config.yml.tmpl
+++ b/app_config.yml.tmpl
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ default: &defaults
   host: "{{ env "DOMAIN" }}"
   #port: 3000
 
+
+  {{ if eq (env "ENABLED_SHARED_LISTS") "1" }}
   # Access to sharedlists, the external article-database.
   # This allows a foodcoop to subscribe to a selection of a supplier's full assortment,
   # and makes it possible to share data with several foodcoops. Using this requires installing
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ default: &defaults
     database: "{{ env "SHARED_LISTS_DB_NAME" }}"
     username: "{{ env "SHARED_LISTS_USER" }}"
     password: "{{ secret "shared_lists_db_password" }}"
+  {{ end }}
 
 # don't remove this, required to run the app
 production:
diff --git a/compose.sharedlists.yml b/compose.sharedlists.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..501c815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compose.sharedlists.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+version: "3.8"
+
+services:
+  app:
+    secrets:
+      - shared_lists_db_password
+    environment:
+      - ENABLED_SHARED_LISTS
+      - SHARED_LISTS_DB_NAME
+      - SHARED_LISTS_DB_TYPE
+      - SHARED_LISTS_HOST
+      - SHARED_LISTS_USER
+
+secrets:
+  shared_lists_db_password:
+    name: ${STACK_NAME}_shared_lists_db_password_${SECRET_SHARED_LISTS_DB_PASSWORD_VERSION}
+    external: true
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index f45eae9..b357477 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ services:
     secrets:
       - db_password
       - secret_key_base
-      - shared_lists_db_password
       - smtp_password
     configs:
       - source: app_config
@@ -44,10 +43,6 @@ services:
       - QUEUE=foodsoft_notifier
       - REDIS_URL=redis://cache:6379
       - SECRET_KEY_BASE_FILE=/run/secrets/secret_key_base
-      - SHARED_LISTS_DB_NAME
-      - SHARED_LISTS_DB_TYPE
-      - SHARED_LISTS_HOST
-      - SHARED_LISTS_USER
       - SMTP_ADDRESS
       - SMTP_DOMAIN
       - SMTP_PASSWORD_FILE=/run/secrets/smtp_password
@@ -142,9 +137,6 @@ secrets:
   db_root_password:
     name: ${STACK_NAME}_db_root_password_${SECRET_DB_ROOT_PASSWORD_VERSION}
     external: true
-  shared_lists_db_password:
-    name: ${STACK_NAME}_shared_lists_db_password_${SECRET_SHARED_LISTS_DB_PASSWORD_VERSION}
-    external: true
   smtp_password:
     name: ${STACK_NAME}_smtp_password_${SECRET_SMTP_PASSWORD_VERSION}
     external: true