diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/code/index.ts
index 7a4e799cf7fc8..1a2344e5620b5 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
+import { Server } from 'hapi';
 import JoiNamespace from 'joi';
 import moment from 'moment';
 import { resolve } from 'path';
@@ -24,9 +25,19 @@ export const code = (kibana: any) =>
         euiIconType: 'codeApp',
       },
       styleSheetPaths: resolve(__dirname, 'public/index.scss'),
+      injectDefaultVars(server: Server) {
+        const config = server.config();
+        return {
+          codeUiEnabled: config.get('xpack.code.ui.enabled'),
+        };
+      },
+      hacks: ['plugins/code/hacks/toggle_app_link_in_nav'],
     },
     config(Joi: typeof JoiNamespace) {
       return Joi.object({
+        ui: Joi.object({
+          enabled: Joi.boolean().default(true),
+        }).default(),
         enabled: Joi.boolean().default(true),
         queueIndex: Joi.string().default('.code_internal-worker-queue'),
         // 1 hour by default.
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/app.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/app.tsx
index 66e7965d4f578..e1c6bdfb74052 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/app.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/app.tsx
@@ -16,45 +16,47 @@ import { App } from './components/app';
 import { HelpMenu } from './components/help_menu';
 import { store } from './stores';
 
-const app = uiModules.get('apps/code');
-
-app.config(($locationProvider: any) => {
-  $locationProvider.html5Mode({
-    enabled: false,
-    requireBase: false,
-    rewriteLinks: false,
+if (chrome.getInjected('codeUiEnabled')) {
+  const app = uiModules.get('apps/code');
+
+  app.config(($locationProvider: any) => {
+    $locationProvider.html5Mode({
+      enabled: false,
+      requireBase: false,
+      rewriteLinks: false,
+    });
   });
-});
-app.config((stateManagementConfigProvider: any) => stateManagementConfigProvider.disable());
-
-function RootController($scope: any, $element: any, $http: any) {
-  const domNode = $element[0];
-
-  // render react to DOM
-  render(
-    <Provider store={store}>
-      <App />
-    </Provider>,
-    domNode
-  );
-
-  // unmount react on controller destroy
-  $scope.$on('$destroy', () => {
-    unmountComponentAtNode(domNode);
+  app.config((stateManagementConfigProvider: any) => stateManagementConfigProvider.disable());
+
+  function RootController($scope: any, $element: any, $http: any) {
+    const domNode = $element[0];
+
+    // render react to DOM
+    render(
+      <Provider store={store}>
+        <App />
+      </Provider>,
+      domNode
+    );
+
+    // unmount react on controller destroy
+    $scope.$on('$destroy', () => {
+      unmountComponentAtNode(domNode);
+    });
+  }
+
+  chrome.setRootController('code', RootController);
+  chrome.breadcrumbs.set([
+    {
+      text: 'Code (Beta)',
+      href: '#/',
+    },
+  ]);
+
+  chrome.helpExtension.set(domNode => {
+    render(<HelpMenu />, domNode);
+    return () => {
+      unmountComponentAtNode(domNode);
+    };
   });
 }
-
-chrome.setRootController('code', RootController);
-chrome.breadcrumbs.set([
-  {
-    text: 'Code (Beta)',
-    href: '#/',
-  },
-]);
-
-chrome.helpExtension.set(domNode => {
-  render(<HelpMenu />, domNode);
-  return () => {
-    unmountComponentAtNode(domNode);
-  };
-});
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/public/hacks/toggle_app_link_in_nav.ts b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/hacks/toggle_app_link_in_nav.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f2ccc0ef18309
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/public/hacks/toggle_app_link_in_nav.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import { onStart } from 'ui/new_platform';
+
+onStart(({ core }) => {
+  const codeUiEnabled = core.injectedMetadata.getInjectedVar('codeUiEnabled');
+  if (codeUiEnabled === false) {
+    core.chrome.navLinks.update('code', { hidden: true });
+  }
+});
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/code/server/init.ts b/x-pack/plugins/code/server/init.ts
index 62d05da535e48..e02a65a61e354 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/code/server/init.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/code/server/init.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ async function getCodeNodeUuid(url: string, log: Logger) {
 }
 
 export function init(server: Server, options: any) {
-  if (!options.enabled) {
+  if (!options.ui.enabled) {
     return;
   }