diff --git a/cmd/neofs-ir/defaults.go b/cmd/neofs-ir/defaults.go
index 41931ff33..b6f620be6 100644
--- a/cmd/neofs-ir/defaults.go
+++ b/cmd/neofs-ir/defaults.go
@@ -120,4 +120,6 @@ func defaultConfiguration(cfg *viper.Viper) {
 
 	cfg.SetDefault("control.authorized_keys", []string{})
 	cfg.SetDefault("control.grpc.endpoint", "")
+
+	cfg.SetDefault("governance.disable", false)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/innerring/innerring.go b/pkg/innerring/innerring.go
index 101752056..deb37a240 100644
--- a/pkg/innerring/innerring.go
+++ b/pkg/innerring/innerring.go
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, log *zap.Logger, cfg *viper.Viper) (*Server, error
 
 	var alphaSync event.Handler
 
-	if server.withoutMainNet {
+	if server.withoutMainNet || cfg.GetBool("governance.disable") {
 		alphaSync = func(event.Event) {
 			log.Debug("alphabet keys sync is disabled")
 		}