diff --git a/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/config.rs
index 4c6524084..e18fd00ae 100644
--- a/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/lighthouse_network/src/config.rs
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ pub struct Config {
 
     /// List of extra topics to initially subscribe to as strings.
     pub topics: Vec<GossipKind>,
+
+    /// Whether metrics are enabled.
+    pub metrics_enabled: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for Config {
@@ -188,6 +191,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             import_all_attestations: false,
             shutdown_after_sync: false,
             topics: Vec::new(),
+            metrics_enabled: false,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
index 6eeb17123..ce8aca472 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ pub struct NetworkService<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
     subscribe_all_subnets: bool,
     /// Shutdown beacon node after sync is complete.
     shutdown_after_sync: bool,
+    /// Whether metrics are enabled or not.
+    metrics_enabled: bool,
     /// A timer for updating various network metrics.
     metrics_update: tokio::time::Interval,
     /// gossipsub_parameter_update timer
@@ -263,6 +265,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
             next_unsubscribe,
             subscribe_all_subnets: config.subscribe_all_subnets,
             shutdown_after_sync: config.shutdown_after_sync,
+            metrics_enabled: config.metrics_enabled,
             metrics_update,
             gossipsub_parameter_update,
             fork_context,
@@ -325,7 +328,7 @@ fn spawn_service<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         loop {
             // build the futures to check simultaneously
             tokio::select! {
-                _ = service.metrics_update.tick() => {
+                _ = service.metrics_update.tick(), if service.metrics_enabled => {
                     // update various network metrics
                     metric_update_counter +=1;
                     if metric_update_counter % T::EthSpec::default_spec().seconds_per_slot == 0 {
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
index c086d71ab..12c7d59b5 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
@@ -705,6 +705,10 @@ pub fn set_network_config(
         config.private = true;
     }
 
+    if cli_args.is_present("metrics") {
+        config.metrics_enabled = true;
+    }
+
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
index 2456c8d50..a7ccdbebd 100644
--- a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
@@ -619,7 +619,10 @@ fn metrics_flag() {
     CommandLineTest::new()
         .flag("metrics", None)
         .run()
-        .with_config(|config| assert!(config.http_metrics.enabled));
+        .with_config(|config| {
+            assert!(config.http_metrics.enabled);
+            assert!(config.network.metrics_enabled);
+        });
 }
 #[test]
 fn metrics_address_flag() {