diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3bf6222e..1d6b882c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Support for TAUSAT-1 and TSURU
 - 2k4 downlink for MEZNSAT
 - Support for SMOG-1
+- Env variable GR_SATELLITES_SUBMIT_TLM to force/disable telemetry submission
 
 ### Fixed
 - RS basis options swapped in CCSDS Reed-Solomon encoder GRC block
diff --git a/python/core/gr_satellites_flowgraph.py b/python/core/gr_satellites_flowgraph.py
index d062c261..bce7ca88 100644
--- a/python/core/gr_satellites_flowgraph.py
+++ b/python/core/gr_satellites_flowgraph.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import yaml
 import argparse
 import itertools
+import os
 import shlex
 
 def set_options(cl, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -183,8 +184,17 @@ def _init_additional_datasinks(self):
                                                                               self.options.kiss_server))
         if self.options is not None and self.options.zmq_pub:
             self._additional_datasinks.append(zeromq.pub_msg_sink(self.options.zmq_pub))
-        if self.config.getboolean('Groundstation', 'submit_tlm'):
+
+        # The GR_SATELLITES_SUBMIT_TLM environment variable takes precendence
+        # over the configuration to choose whether to enable telemetry submission
+        tlm_env = os.environ.get('GR_SATELLITES_SUBMIT_TLM')
+        if tlm_env is not None:
+            tlm_submit = bool(int(tlm_env))
+        else:
+            tlm_submit = self.config.getboolean('Groundstation', 'submit_tlm')    
+        if tlm_submit:
             self._additional_datasinks.extend(self.get_telemetry_submitters(self.satyaml, self.config, self.options))
+        
         if self.options is not None and self.options.hexdump:
             self._additional_datasinks.append(datasinks.hexdump_sink())
         
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index 3a95cbb3..30978ba0 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+export GR_SATELLITES_SUBMIT_TLM=0
+
 echo 1KUNS-PF
 gr_satellites 1KUNS-PF --wavfile satellite-recordings/1kuns_pf.wav
 echo 3CAT-1