diff --git a/lib/galaxy/config.py b/lib/galaxy/config.py
index 6736daca589..4f882bba5d2 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/config.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/config.py
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ class Configuration( object ):
         self.biostar_url = kwargs.get( 'biostar_url', None )
         self.biostar_key_name = kwargs.get( 'biostar_key_name', None )
         self.biostar_key = kwargs.get( 'biostar_key', None )
+        self.biostar_enable_bug_reports = string_as_bool( kwargs.get( 'biostar_enable_bug_reports', True ) )
         self.pretty_datetime_format = expand_pretty_datetime_format( kwargs.get( 'pretty_datetime_format', '$locale (UTC)' ) )
         self.master_api_key = kwargs.get( 'master_api_key', None )
         if self.master_api_key == "changethis":  # default in sample config file
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/util/biostar.py b/lib/galaxy/util/biostar.py
index d5fea0e6501..6552fd0fb2a 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/util/biostar.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/util/biostar.py
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ def biostar_logout( trans ):
 class BiostarErrorReporter( ErrorReporter ):
     def _send_report( self, user, email=None, message=None, **kwd ):
         assert biostar_enabled( self.app ), ValueError( "Biostar is not configured for this galaxy instance" )
+        assert self.app.config.biostar_enable_bug_reports, ValueError( "Biostar is not configured to allow bug reporting for this galaxy instance" )
         assert self._can_access_dataset( user ), Exception( "You are not allowed to access this dataset." )
         tool_version_select_field, tools, tool = \
             self.app.toolbox.get_tool_components( self.tool_id, tool_version=None, get_loaded_tools_by_lineage=False, set_selected=True )
diff --git a/templates/webapps/galaxy/dataset/errors.mako b/templates/webapps/galaxy/dataset/errors.mako
index 87055b5a601..f815197bf1f 100644
--- a/templates/webapps/galaxy/dataset/errors.mako
+++ b/templates/webapps/galaxy/dataset/errors.mako
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
                     </div>
                     <div class="form-row">
                         <input type="submit" name="submit_error_report" value="Report" onclick="return sendReport( this, this.form, '_self' );"/>
-                        %if trans.app.config.biostar_url:
+                        %if trans.app.config.biostar_url and trans.app.config.biostar_enable_bug_reports:
                             <input type="submit" name="submit_error_report" value="Post on Biostar" onclick="return sendReport( this, this.form, '_blank', true );"/>
                         %endif
                     </div>