diff --git a/constants/attributes.go b/constants/attributes.go
index 8f7e458..a50d7b5 100644
--- a/constants/attributes.go
+++ b/constants/attributes.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ const ProfileTypeV1Password = "v1-userPassword"
 // PeerOnline stores state on if the peer believes it is online
 const PeerOnline = "peer-online"
 
+const PeerAutostart = "autostart"
+
 // Description is used on server contacts,
 const Description = "description"
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index c36ffc8..05fd87c 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/libcwtch-go
 go 1.17
 
 require (
-	cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.5
+	cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.6
 	git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/server v1.4.5
 	git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/connectivity v1.8.6
 	git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/log v1.0.3
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index dc621ab..1acb7b3 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.4 h1:Oht7rEDVJjVWDOKg0xqDgXvY/H059HMJlOPt/nBGqxk=
 cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.4/go.mod h1:h8S7EgEM+8pE1k+XLB5jAFdIPlOzwoXEY0GH5mQye5A=
 cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.5 h1:yqDns4flbowsbaWjMiUm7Em4IAlM8kkgm79CCcXV1GE=
 cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.5/go.mod h1:h8S7EgEM+8pE1k+XLB5jAFdIPlOzwoXEY0GH5mQye5A=
+cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.6 h1:CRwoZ/H7y1rAp6jrYh6YCIILU+Sw59hJUvHaWqPgBjg=
+cwtch.im/cwtch v0.18.6/go.mod h1:h8S7EgEM+8pE1k+XLB5jAFdIPlOzwoXEY0GH5mQye5A=
 filippo.io/edwards25519 v1.0.0-rc.1/go.mod h1:N1IkdkCkiLB6tki+MYJoSx2JTY9NUlxZE7eHn5EwJns=
 filippo.io/edwards25519 v1.0.0 h1:0wAIcmJUqRdI8IJ/3eGi5/HwXZWPujYXXlkrQogz0Ek=
 filippo.io/edwards25519 v1.0.0/go.mod h1:N1IkdkCkiLB6tki+MYJoSx2JTY9NUlxZE7eHn5EwJns=
diff --git a/lib.go b/lib.go
index 20a7d37..5911262 100644
--- a/lib.go
+++ b/lib.go
@@ -520,6 +520,28 @@ func GetAppBusEvent() string {
 	return json
 }
 
+//export c_ActivatePeerEngine
+func c_ActivatePeerEngine(onion_ptr *C.char, onion_len C.int) {
+	ActivatePeerEngine(C.GoStringN(onion_ptr, onion_len))
+}
+
+func ActivatePeerEngine(profile string) {
+	doServers := false
+	if _, err := groups.ExperimentGate(utils.ReadGlobalSettings().Experiments); err == nil {
+		doServers = true
+	}
+	application.ActivatePeerEngine(profile, true, true, doServers)
+}
+
+//export c_DeactivatePeerEngine
+func c_DeactivatePeerEngine(onion_ptr *C.char, onion_len C.int) {
+	DeactivatePeerEngine(C.GoStringN(onion_ptr, onion_len))
+}
+
+func DeactivatePeerEngine(profile string) {
+	application.DeactivatePeerEngine(profile)
+}
+
 //export c_CreateProfile
 func c_CreateProfile(nick_ptr *C.char, nick_len C.int, pass_ptr *C.char, pass_len C.int) {
 	CreateProfile(C.GoStringN(nick_ptr, nick_len), C.GoStringN(pass_ptr, pass_len))
@@ -1111,6 +1133,8 @@ func SetProfileAttribute(profileOnion string, key string, value string) {
 		// All other scopes and zones need to be added explicitly or handled by Cwtch.
 		if zone == attr.ProfileZone && key == constants.Name {
 			profile.SetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.PublicScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants.Name, value)
+		} else if zone == attr.ProfileZone && key == constants.PeerAutostart {
+			profile.SetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.LocalScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants.PeerAutostart, value)
 		} else {
 			log.Errorf("attempted to set an attribute with an unknown zone: %v", key)
 		}
diff --git a/utils/eventHandler.go b/utils/eventHandler.go
index b2269f9..2ca2830 100644
--- a/utils/eventHandler.go
+++ b/utils/eventHandler.go
@@ -104,7 +104,14 @@ func (eh *EventHandler) handleAppBusEvent(e *event.Event) string {
 					if _, err := groups.ExperimentGate(ReadGlobalSettings().Experiments); err == nil {
 						doServers = true
 					}
-					eh.app.ActivateEngines(true, true, doServers)
+
+					for _, onion := range eh.app.ListProfiles() {
+						profile := eh.app.GetPeer(onion)
+						autostart, exists := profile.GetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.LocalScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants2.PeerAutostart)
+						if !exists || autostart == "true" {
+							eh.app.ActivatePeerEngine(onion, true, true, doServers)
+						}
+					}
 					eh.api.LaunchServers()
 				}
 			} else {
@@ -156,14 +163,26 @@ func (eh *EventHandler) handleAppBusEvent(e *event.Event) string {
 
 			// Start up the Profile
 			if acnStatus == 100 {
-				doServers := false
-				if _, err := groups.ExperimentGate(ReadGlobalSettings().Experiments); err == nil {
-					doServers = true
+				autostart, exists := profile.GetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.LocalScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants2.PeerAutostart)
+				if !exists || autostart == "true" {
+					doServers := false
+					if _, err := groups.ExperimentGate(ReadGlobalSettings().Experiments); err == nil {
+						doServers = true
+					}
+					eh.app.ActivatePeerEngine(onion, true, true, doServers)
 				}
-				eh.app.ActivatePeerEngine(onion, true, true, doServers)
 			}
 
 			online, _ := profile.GetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.LocalScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants2.PeerOnline)
+			e.Data["Online"] = online
+
+			autostart, exists := profile.GetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.LocalScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants2.PeerAutostart)
+			// legacy profiles should autostart by default
+			if !exists {
+				autostart = "true"
+			}
+			e.Data["autostart"] = autostart
+
 			// Name always exists
 			e.Data[constants.Name], _ = profile.GetScopedZonedAttribute(attr.PublicScope, attr.ProfileZone, constants.Name)
 			e.Data[constants2.DefaultProfilePicture] = RandomProfileImage(onion)
@@ -183,8 +202,6 @@ func (eh *EventHandler) handleAppBusEvent(e *event.Event) string {
 
 			// Resolve the profile image of the profile.
 
-			e.Data["Online"] = online
-
 			// If file sharing is enabled then reshare all active files...
 			fsf, err := filesharing.FunctionalityGate(settings.Experiments)
 			if err == nil {