diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 5f7bb118f..f11951be2 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Changelog
 * Hungarian translation [w3host]
 * Russian translation [bkocherov]
 * Update CSS to avoid clash with bootstrap [seocam]
+* Add config option ``allow_muc`` to enable/disable multi-user chat (MUC) [jcbrand]
 
 0.6.4 (2013-09-15)
 ------------------
diff --git a/converse.css b/converse.css
index 4e19b7abf..b64194305 100644
--- a/converse.css
+++ b/converse.css
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ dd.available-chatroom:hover a.room-info {
     background-color: #DCEAC5;
 }
 
-.controlbox-panes {
+#chatpanel div.controlbox-panes {
     background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,1) 0%, rgba(240,240,240,1) 100%); /* FF3.6+ */
     background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,1) 0%,rgba(240,240,240,1) 100%); /* IE10+ */
     background: -o-linear-gradient(top, rgba(255,255,255,1) 0%,rgba(240,240,240,1) 100%); /* Opera 11.10+ */
diff --git a/converse.js b/converse.js
index ae338b34d..a47e1bdb5 100644
--- a/converse.js
+++ b/converse.js
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
         this.hide_muc_server = false;
         this.i18n = locales.en;
         this.allow_otr = true;
+        this.allow_muc = true;
         this.prebind = false;
         this.show_controlbox_by_default = false;
         this.show_toolbar = true;
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@
         // Allow only the whitelisted settings attributes to be overwritten,
         // nothing else.
         whitelist = [
+            'allow_muc',
+            'allow_otr',
             'animate',
             'auto_list_rooms',
             'auto_subscribe',
@@ -83,7 +86,6 @@
             'hide_muc_server',
             'i18n',
             'jid',
-            'allow_otr',
             'prebind',
             'rid',
             'show_controlbox_by_default',
@@ -1506,8 +1508,10 @@
                     this.contactspanel.render();
                     converse.xmppstatusview = new converse.XMPPStatusView({'model': converse.xmppstatus});
                     converse.xmppstatusview.render();
-                    this.roomspanel = new converse.RoomsPanel({'$parent': this.$el.find('.controlbox-panes')});
-                    this.roomspanel.render();
+                    if (converse.allow_muc) {
+                        this.roomspanel = new converse.RoomsPanel({'$parent': this.$el.find('.controlbox-panes')});
+                        this.roomspanel.render();
+                    }
                 }
                 return this;
             }
diff --git a/docs/source/index.rst b/docs/source/index.rst
index 98761421e..68e1c4d8b 100644
--- a/docs/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/index.rst
@@ -465,17 +465,25 @@ JS file so that it will include the new settings. Please refer to the
 Configuration variables
 =======================
 
+allow_muc
+---------
+
+Default = ``true``
+
+Allow multi-user chat (muc) in chatrooms. Setting this to ``false`` will remove
+the ``Chatrooms`` tab from the control box.
+
 animate
 -------
 
-Default = True
+Default = ``true``
 
 Show animations, for example when opening and closing chat boxes.
 
 auto_list_rooms
 ---------------
 
-Default = False
+Default = ``false``
 
 If true, and the XMPP server on which the current user is logged in supports
 multi-user chat, then a list of rooms on that server will be fetched.
@@ -489,7 +497,7 @@ option will create lots of extra connection traffic.
 auto_subscribe
 --------------
 
-Default = False
+Default = ``false``
 
 If true, the user will automatically subscribe back to any contact requests.
 
@@ -504,6 +512,8 @@ See `here <http://metajack.im/2008/09/08/which-bosh-server-do-you-need>`_ for mo
 debug
 -----
 
+Default = ``false``
+
 If set to true, debugging output will be logged to the browser console.
 
 fullname
@@ -515,7 +525,7 @@ logged in user, otherwise the user's vCard will be fetched.
 hide_muc_server
 ---------------
 
-Default = false
+Default = ``false``
 
 Hide the ``server`` input field of the form inside the ``Room`` panel of the
 controlbox. Useful if you want to restrict users to a specific XMPP server of
@@ -530,7 +540,7 @@ Specify the locale/language. The language must be in the ``locales`` object. Ref
 prebind
 --------
 
-Default = false
+Default = ``false``
 
 Use this option when you want to attach to an existing XMPP connection that was
 already authenticated (usually on the backend before page load).
@@ -550,7 +560,7 @@ Additionally, you have to specify ``bosh_service_url``.
 show_controlbox_by_default
 --------------------------
 
-Default = false
+Default = ``false``
 
 The "controlbox" refers to the special chatbox containing your contacts roster,
 status widget, chatrooms and other controls.
@@ -565,7 +575,7 @@ page load.
 xhr_user_search
 ---------------
 
-Default = False
+Default = ``false``
 
 There are two ways to add users. 
 
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 2d1e9e5d5..12b30f372 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@
     require(['converse'], function (converse) {
         converse.initialize({
             allow_otr: true,
+            allow_muc: true,
             auto_list_rooms: false,
             auto_subscribe: false,
             bosh_service_url: 'https://bind.opkode.im', // Please use this connection manager only for testing purposes