diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2900be6..0a74ec5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 
 * Added logging for process output on debugging mode
 
+* Introduced system property `use_proxy` to toggle proxy detection and info request
+  (default is `true` to keep old behaviour)
+
 ## 1.8.7 - May 24, 2022
 
 * Paths in classpath are specified relative to appdir to avoid excessively long command lines.
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysProps.java b/core/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysProps.java
index 5c6b143..5478fde 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysProps.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysProps.java
@@ -134,6 +134,14 @@ public static boolean direct() {
         return Boolean.getBoolean("direct");
     }
 
+    /**
+     * If false, Getdown will not detect proxy or request proxy info. Default is true.
+     * Usage: {@code -Duse_proxy=false}.
+     */
+    public static boolean useProxy() {
+        return !"false".equals(System.getProperty("use_proxy"));
+    }
+
     /**
      * If true, Getdown will always try to connect without proxy settings even it a proxy is set
      * in {@code proxy.txt}. If direct access is possible it will not clear {@code proxy.txt}, it
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysPropsTest.java b/core/src/test/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysPropsTest.java
index cd8dc36..2b135f4 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysPropsTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/data/SysPropsTest.java
@@ -94,4 +94,52 @@ void test_hostWhitelist_defined() {
         assertThat(hostWhitelist).isEqualTo("app1.foo.com,app2.bar.com,app3.baz.com");
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @ClearSystemProperty(key = "use_proxy")
+    void test_useProxy_undefined() {
+        // GIVEN
+
+        // WHEN
+        boolean useProxy = SysProps.useProxy();
+
+        // THEN
+        assertThat(useProxy).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    @SetSystemProperty(key = "use_proxy", value = "")
+    void test_useProxy_defined() {
+        // GIVEN
+
+        // WHEN
+        boolean useProxy = SysProps.useProxy();
+
+        // THEN
+        assertThat(useProxy).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    @SetSystemProperty(key = "use_proxy", value = "true")
+    void test_useProxy_true() {
+        // GIVEN
+
+        // WHEN
+        boolean useProxy = SysProps.useProxy();
+
+        // THEN
+        assertThat(useProxy).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    @SetSystemProperty(key = "use_proxy", value = "false")
+    void test_useProxy_false() {
+        // GIVEN
+
+        // WHEN
+        boolean useProxy = SysProps.useProxy();
+
+        // THEN
+        assertThat(useProxy).isFalse();
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/launcher/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/launcher/Getdown.java b/launcher/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/launcher/Getdown.java
index 57441ea..37e0b9f 100644
--- a/launcher/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/launcher/Getdown.java
+++ b/launcher/src/main/java/io/github/bekoenig/getdown/launcher/Getdown.java
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ protected void run() {
     }
 
     protected boolean detectProxy() {
+        if (!SysProps.useProxy()) {
+            LOGGER.info("Skipped proxy detection");
+            return true;
+        }
+
         // first we have to initialize our application to get the appbase URL, etc.
         LOGGER.info("Checking whether we need to use a proxy...");
         try {
@@ -213,7 +218,7 @@ protected void readConfig(boolean preloads) throws IOException {
     }
 
     protected void requestProxyInfo(boolean reinitAuth) {
-        if (_silent) {
+        if (_silent || !SysProps.useProxy()) {
             LOGGER.warn("Need a proxy, but we don't want to bother anyone. Exiting.");
             return;
         }