diff --git a/api/src/handlers/blocks_api.rs b/api/src/handlers/blocks_api.rs
index 4cea007a5f..9675ef52b8 100644
--- a/api/src/handlers/blocks_api.rs
+++ b/api/src/handlers/blocks_api.rs
@@ -79,15 +79,18 @@ impl Handler for HeaderHandler {
 ///
 /// Optionally return results as "compact blocks" by passing "?compact" query
 /// param GET /v1/blocks/<hash>?compact
+///
+/// Optionally turn off the Merkle proof extraction by passing "?no_merkle_proof" query
+/// param GET /v1/blocks/<hash>?no_merkle_proof
 pub struct BlockHandler {
 	pub chain: Weak<chain::Chain>,
 }
 
 impl BlockHandler {
-	fn get_block(&self, h: &Hash) -> Result<BlockPrintable, Error> {
+	fn get_block(&self, h: &Hash, include_merkle_proof: bool) -> Result<BlockPrintable, Error> {
 		let chain = w(&self.chain)?;
 		let block = chain.get_block(h).context(ErrorKind::NotFound)?;
-		BlockPrintable::from_block(&block, chain, false)
+		BlockPrintable::from_block(&block, chain, false, include_merkle_proof)
 			.map_err(|_| ErrorKind::Internal("chain error".to_owned()).into())
 	}
 
@@ -141,6 +144,8 @@ impl Handler for BlockHandler {
 		if let Some(param) = req.uri().query() {
 			if param == "compact" {
 				result_to_response(self.get_compact_block(&h))
+			} else if param == "no_merkle_proof" {
+				result_to_response(self.get_block(&h, false))
 			} else {
 				response(
 					StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
@@ -148,7 +153,7 @@ impl Handler for BlockHandler {
 				)
 			}
 		} else {
-			result_to_response(self.get_block(&h))
+			result_to_response(self.get_block(&h, true))
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/api/src/handlers/chain_api.rs b/api/src/handlers/chain_api.rs
index 66bedcca77..963bd6a6e8 100644
--- a/api/src/handlers/chain_api.rs
+++ b/api/src/handlers/chain_api.rs
@@ -138,7 +138,13 @@ impl OutputHandler {
 			.iter()
 			.filter(|output| commitments.is_empty() || commitments.contains(&output.commit))
 			.map(|output| {
-				OutputPrintable::from_output(output, chain.clone(), Some(&header), include_proof)
+				OutputPrintable::from_output(
+					output,
+					chain.clone(),
+					Some(&header),
+					include_proof,
+					true,
+				)
 			})
 			.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
 			.context(ErrorKind::Internal("cain error".to_owned()))?;
diff --git a/api/src/handlers/transactions_api.rs b/api/src/handlers/transactions_api.rs
index a65047624d..9d8a827031 100644
--- a/api/src/handlers/transactions_api.rs
+++ b/api/src/handlers/transactions_api.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl TxHashSetHandler {
 			outputs: outputs
 				.2
 				.iter()
-				.map(|x| OutputPrintable::from_output(x, chain.clone(), None, true))
+				.map(|x| OutputPrintable::from_output(x, chain.clone(), None, true, true))
 				.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
 				.context(ErrorKind::Internal("cain error".to_owned()))?,
 		};
diff --git a/api/src/types.rs b/api/src/types.rs
index 5550047416..dee77704c1 100644
--- a/api/src/types.rs
+++ b/api/src/types.rs
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ impl OutputPrintable {
 		chain: Arc<chain::Chain>,
 		block_header: Option<&core::BlockHeader>,
 		include_proof: bool,
+		include_merkle_proof: bool,
 	) -> Result<OutputPrintable, chain::Error> {
 		let output_type = if output.is_coinbase() {
 			OutputType::Coinbase
@@ -282,7 +283,7 @@ impl OutputPrintable {
 		// We require the rewind() to be stable even after the PMMR is pruned and
 		// compacted so we can still recreate the necessary proof.
 		let mut merkle_proof = None;
-		if output.is_coinbase() && !spent {
+		if include_merkle_proof && output.is_coinbase() && !spent {
 			if let Some(block_header) = block_header {
 				merkle_proof = chain.get_merkle_proof(&out_id, &block_header).ok();
 			}
@@ -583,6 +584,7 @@ impl BlockPrintable {
 		block: &core::Block,
 		chain: Arc<chain::Chain>,
 		include_proof: bool,
+		include_merkle_proof: bool,
 	) -> Result<BlockPrintable, chain::Error> {
 		let inputs = block
 			.inputs()
@@ -598,6 +600,7 @@ impl BlockPrintable {
 					chain.clone(),
 					Some(&block.header),
 					include_proof,
+					include_merkle_proof,
 				)
 			})
 			.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
@@ -639,7 +642,9 @@ impl CompactBlockPrintable {
 		let out_full = cb
 			.out_full()
 			.iter()
-			.map(|x| OutputPrintable::from_output(x, chain.clone(), Some(&block.header), false))
+			.map(|x| {
+				OutputPrintable::from_output(x, chain.clone(), Some(&block.header), false, true)
+			})
 			.collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
 		let kern_full = cb
 			.kern_full()