diff --git a/comfy/cli_args.py b/comfy/cli_args.py
index 68c7285ee..af5016e64 100644
--- a/comfy/cli_args.py
+++ b/comfy/cli_args.py
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ upcast.add_argument("--dont-upcast-attention", action="store_true", help="Disabl
 
 
 manager_group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
-manager_group.add_argument("--disable-manager", action="store_true", help="Disable ComfyUI-Manager feature.")
+manager_group.add_argument("--disable-manager", action="store_true", help="Completely disable the ComfyUI-Manager feature.")
+manager_group.add_argument("--disable-manager-ui", action="store_true", help="Disables only the ComfyUI-Manager UI and endpoints. Scheduled installations and similar background tasks will still operate.")
 manager_group.add_argument("--enable-manager-legacy-ui", action="store_true", help="Enables the legacy UI of ComfyUI-Manager")
 
 
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 295d0f4e2..c1bfdaf57 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ import itertools
 import utils.extra_config
 import logging
 import sys
-import comfyui_manager
+
+if not args.disable_manager:
+    import comfyui_manager
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     #NOTE: These do not do anything on core ComfyUI which should already have no communication with the internet, they are for custom nodes.
@@ -79,8 +81,9 @@ def execute_prestartup_script():
         for possible_module in possible_modules:
             module_path = os.path.join(custom_node_path, possible_module)
 
-            if comfyui_manager.should_be_disabled(module_path):
-                continue
+            if not args.disable_manager:
+                if comfyui_manager.should_be_disabled(module_path):
+                    continue
 
             if os.path.isfile(module_path) or module_path.endswith(".disabled") or module_path == "__pycache__":
                 continue
@@ -101,7 +104,10 @@ def execute_prestartup_script():
         logging.info("")
 
 apply_custom_paths()
-comfyui_manager.prestartup()
+
+if not args.disable_manager:
+    comfyui_manager.prestartup()
+
 execute_prestartup_script()
 
 
@@ -274,7 +280,7 @@ def start_comfyui(asyncio_loop=None):
     prompt_server = server.PromptServer(asyncio_loop)
     q = execution.PromptQueue(prompt_server)
 
-    if not args.disable_manager:
+    if not args.disable_manager and not args.disable_manager_ui:
         comfyui_manager.start()
 
     nodes.init_extra_nodes(init_custom_nodes=not args.disable_all_custom_nodes)
diff --git a/nodes.py b/nodes.py
index f7bd54e46..188c67d16 100644
--- a/nodes.py
+++ b/nodes.py
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ import importlib
 import folder_paths
 import latent_preview
 import node_helpers
-import comfyui_manager
+
+if not args.disable_manager:
+    import comfyui_manager
 
 def before_node_execution():
     comfy.model_management.throw_exception_if_processing_interrupted()
@@ -2173,9 +2175,11 @@ def init_external_custom_nodes():
             module_path = os.path.join(custom_node_path, possible_module)
             if os.path.isfile(module_path) and os.path.splitext(module_path)[1] != ".py": continue
             if module_path.endswith(".disabled"): continue
-            if comfyui_manager.should_be_disabled(module_path):
-                logging.info(f"Blocked by policy: {module_path}")
-                continue
+
+            if not args.disable_manager:
+                if comfyui_manager.should_be_disabled(module_path):
+                    logging.info(f"Blocked by policy: {module_path}")
+                    continue
 
             time_before = time.perf_counter()
             success = load_custom_node(module_path, base_node_names, module_parent="custom_nodes")