diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 50911296..cb69c19d 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -11981,7 +11981,8 @@ def loadTokens(baseDir: str, tokensDict: {}, tokensLookup: {}) -> None:
                 tokensLookup[token] = nickname
 
 
-def runDaemon(maxNewsPosts: int,
+def runDaemon(allowNewsFollowers: bool,
+              maxNewsPosts: int,
               maxMirroredArticles: int,
               maxNewswireFeedSizeKb: int,
               maxNewswirePostsPerSource: int,
@@ -12124,6 +12125,9 @@ def runDaemon(maxNewsPosts: int,
     # maximum number of posts in the news timeline/outbox
     httpd.maxNewsPosts = maxNewsPosts
 
+    # whether or not to allow followers of the news account
+    httpd.allowNewsFollowers = allowNewsFollowers
+
     # The maximum number of tags per post which can be
     # attached to RSS feeds pulled in via the newswire
     httpd.maxTags = 32
@@ -12269,7 +12273,8 @@ def runDaemon(maxNewsPosts: int,
                               allowDeletion, debug, maxMentions, maxEmoji,
                               httpd.translate, unitTest,
                               httpd.YTReplacementDomain,
-                              httpd.showPublishedDateOnly), daemon=True)
+                              httpd.showPublishedDateOnly,
+                              httpd.allowNewsFollowers), daemon=True)
 
     print('Creating scheduled post thread')
     httpd.thrPostSchedule = \
diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 474ff6a4..ca2d653c 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -204,6 +204,11 @@ parser.add_argument("--repliesEnabled", "--commentsEnabled",
                     type=str2bool, nargs='?',
                     const=True, default=True,
                     help="Enable replies to a post")
+parser.add_argument("--allowNewsFollowers",
+                    dest='allowNewsFollowers',
+                    type=str2bool, nargs='?',
+                    const=True, default=False,
+                    help="Whether to allow the news account to be followed")
 parser.add_argument("--noapproval", type=str2bool, nargs='?',
                     const=True, default=False,
                     help="Allow followers without approval")
@@ -1965,6 +1970,11 @@ maxNewsPosts = \
 if maxNewsPosts is not None:
     args.maxNewsPosts = int(maxNewsPosts)
 
+allowNewsFollowers = \
+    getConfigParam(baseDir, 'allowNewsFollowers')
+if allowNewsFollowers is not None:
+    args.allowNewsFollowers = bool(allowNewsFollowers)
+
 YTDomain = getConfigParam(baseDir, 'youtubedomain')
 if YTDomain:
     if '://' in YTDomain:
@@ -1978,7 +1988,8 @@ if setTheme(baseDir, themeName, domain):
     print('Theme set to ' + themeName)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    runDaemon(args.maxNewsPosts,
+    runDaemon(args.allowNewsFollowers,
+              args.maxNewsPosts,
               args.maxMirroredArticles,
               args.maxNewswireFeedSizeKb,
               args.maxNewswirePostsPerSource,
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index a38a2007..117c15b2 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -514,7 +514,8 @@ def receiveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                          port: int, sendThreads: [], postLog: [],
                          cachedWebfingers: {}, personCache: {},
                          messageJson: {}, federationList: [],
-                         debug: bool, projectVersion: str) -> bool:
+                         debug: bool, projectVersion: str,
+                         allowNewsFollowers: bool) -> bool:
     """Receives a follow request within the POST section of HTTPServer
     """
     if not messageJson['type'].startswith('Follow'):
@@ -576,9 +577,11 @@ def receiveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                   'nickname for the account followed')
         return True
     if isSystemAccount(nicknameToFollow):
-        if debug:
-            print('DEBUG: Cannot follow system account - ' + nicknameToFollow)
-        return True
+        if not (nicknameToFollow == 'news' and allowNewsFollowers):
+            if debug:
+                print('DEBUG: Cannot follow system account - ' +
+                      nicknameToFollow)
+            return True
     handleToFollow = nicknameToFollow + '@' + domainToFollow
     if domainToFollow == domain:
         if not os.path.isdir(baseDir + '/accounts/' + handleToFollow):
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index 0fb51d0a..dda62813 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -2436,7 +2436,8 @@ def runInboxQueue(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
                   allowDeletion: bool, debug: bool, maxMentions: int,
                   maxEmoji: int, translate: {}, unitTest: bool,
                   YTReplacementDomain: str,
-                  showPublishedDateOnly: bool) -> None:
+                  showPublishedDateOnly: bool,
+                  allowNewsFollowers: bool) -> None:
     """Processes received items and moves them to the appropriate
     directories
     """
@@ -2722,7 +2723,8 @@ def runInboxQueue(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
                                 personCache,
                                 queueJson['post'],
                                 federationList,
-                                debug, projectVersion):
+                                debug, projectVersion,
+                                allowNewsFollowers):
             if os.path.isfile(queueFilename):
                 os.remove(queueFilename)
             if len(queue) > 0:
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index ed308150..d1da2219 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -290,7 +290,8 @@ def createServerAlice(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Alice')
-    runDaemon(0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0, False, 1, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 0, 100, 1024, 5, False,
+              0, False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,
@@ -353,7 +354,8 @@ def createServerBob(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Bob')
-    runDaemon(0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0, False, 1, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0,
+              False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,
@@ -390,7 +392,8 @@ def createServerEve(path: str, domain: str, port: int, federationList: [],
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Eve')
-    runDaemon(0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0, False, 1, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0,
+              False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,