diff --git a/middleman-cli/bin/middleman b/middleman-cli/bin/middleman
index 637e5122..c635d220 100755
--- a/middleman-cli/bin/middleman
+++ b/middleman-cli/bin/middleman
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ end
 ::Middleman::Logger.singleton(3)
 ::Middleman::Cli.config = ::Middleman::Application.new do
   config[:exit_before_ready] = true
+  config[:watcher_disable] = true
+  config[:disable_sitemap] = true
 end.config
 
 # Require the Middleman version
diff --git a/middleman-cli/lib/middleman-cli/config.rb b/middleman-cli/lib/middleman-cli/config.rb
index 902ea216..eaa2c6a6 100644
--- a/middleman-cli/lib/middleman-cli/config.rb
+++ b/middleman-cli/lib/middleman-cli/config.rb
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ module Middleman::Cli
       ::Middleman::Logger.singleton(2, false)
 
       app = ::Middleman::Application.new do
+        config[:disable_sitemap] = true
+        config[:watcher_disable] = true
         config[:exit_before_ready] = true
         config[:environment] = opts[:environment].to_sym if opts[:environment]
       end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
index 590f42ab..8951449d 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ module Middleman
     # @return [String]
     define_setting :source, 'source', 'Name of the source directory'
 
+    # If we should not run the sitemap.
+    # @return [Boolean]
+    define_setting :disable_sitemap, false, 'If we should not run the sitemap.'
+
     # If we should exit before ready event.
     # @return [Boolean]
     define_setting :exit_before_ready, false, 'If we should exit before ready event.'
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/sitemap/store.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/sitemap/store.rb
index 2871eae5..47e678ba 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/sitemap/store.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/sitemap/store.rb
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ module Middleman
       # rebuild_resource_list! since the last time it was run. This is
       # very expensive!
       def ensure_resource_list_updated!
+        return if @app.config[:disable_sitemap]
+
         @lock.synchronize do
           return unless @needs_sitemap_rebuild