diff --git a/routstr/core/settings.py b/routstr/core/settings.py
index 302df24d..6cbec561 100644
--- a/routstr/core/settings.py
+++ b/routstr/core/settings.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     cors_origins: list[str] = Field(default_factory=lambda: ["*"], env="CORS_ORIGINS")
     tor_proxy_url: str = Field(default="socks5://127.0.0.1:9050", env="TOR_PROXY_URL")
     providers_refresh_interval_seconds: int = Field(
-        default=300, env="PROVIDERS_REFRESH_INTERVAL_SECONDS"
+        default=0, env="PROVIDERS_REFRESH_INTERVAL_SECONDS"
     )
     pricing_refresh_interval_seconds: int = Field(
         default=120, env="PRICING_REFRESH_INTERVAL_SECONDS"
diff --git a/routstr/discovery.py b/routstr/discovery.py
index 03a82703..94375b63 100644
--- a/routstr/discovery.py
+++ b/routstr/discovery.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 import httpx
 import websockets
-from fastapi import APIRouter
+from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
 
 from .core.logging import get_logger
 from .core.settings import settings
@@ -389,6 +389,9 @@ async def get_providers(
     Return cached providers. If include_json, return provider+health; otherwise provider only.
     Optional filter by pubkey.
     """
+    if settings.providers_refresh_interval_seconds == 0:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Provider discovery is disabled")
+
     cache = await get_cache()
     if not cache:
         await refresh_providers_cache(pubkey=pubkey)