diff --git a/changelog.d/+explicitly-disable-from-env.added.md b/changelog.d/+explicitly-disable-from-env.added.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..175f9795
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/+explicitly-disable-from-env.added.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Setting `MIRRORD_ACTIVE=0` environment variable will explicitly disable mirrord.
diff --git a/modules/core/src/main/kotlin/com/metalbear/mirrord/MirrordExecManager.kt b/modules/core/src/main/kotlin/com/metalbear/mirrord/MirrordExecManager.kt
index dae50b7f..40719110 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/main/kotlin/com/metalbear/mirrord/MirrordExecManager.kt
+++ b/modules/core/src/main/kotlin/com/metalbear/mirrord/MirrordExecManager.kt
@@ -99,8 +99,10 @@ class MirrordExecManager(private val service: MirrordProjectService) {
         projectEnvVars: Map<String, String>?
     ): MirrordExecution? {
         MirrordLogger.logger.debug("MirrordExecManager.start")
-        val explicitlyEnabled = projectEnvVars?.any { (key, value) -> key == "MIRRORD_ACTIVE" && value == "1" } ?: false
-        if (!service.enabled && !explicitlyEnabled) {
+        val mirrordActiveValue = projectEnvVars?.get("MIRRORD_ACTIVE")
+        val explicitlyEnabled = mirrordActiveValue == "1"
+        val explicitlyDisabled = mirrordActiveValue == "0"
+        if ((!service.enabled && !explicitlyEnabled) || explicitlyDisabled) {
             MirrordLogger.logger.debug("disabled, returning")
             return null
         }