diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/overmap.dm b/code/__DEFINES/overmap.dm
index b35e544b5c4..b25a8ea426a 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/overmap.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/overmap.dm
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+// Comment this out to enable planets and space Z generation.
+// Disabled by default cause we don't have the player count on live, and it adds a notable amount to init times.
+#define DISABLE_OVERMAP_ZS
+
 //Bitflags for overmap_flags
 #define OV_SHOWS_ON_SENSORS (1<<0)
 #define OV_CAN_BE_TARGETED (1<<1)
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
index 5da0c6c473c..d0125b3461d 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
@@ -414,9 +414,11 @@ Used by the AI doomsday and the self-destruct nuke.
 		qdel(query_round_map_name)
 
 #ifndef LOWMEMORYMODE
+	#ifndef DISABLE_OVERMAP_ZS
 	while (space_levels_so_far < config.space_ruin_levels)
 		++space_levels_so_far
 		add_new_zlevel("Ruins Area [space_levels_so_far]", ZTRAITS_SPACE, overmap_obj = new /datum/overmap_object/ruins(SSovermap.main_system, rand(1,SSovermap.main_system.maxx), rand(1,SSovermap.main_system.maxy)))
+	#endif
 	//Load planets
 	if(config.minetype == "lavaland")
 		var/datum/planet_template/lavaland_template = planet_templates[/datum/planet_template/lavaland]
diff --git a/code/modules/overmap/planets/planet_templates.dm b/code/modules/overmap/planets/planet_templates.dm
index d5290572b60..1b37fe360b8 100644
--- a/code/modules/overmap/planets/planet_templates.dm
+++ b/code/modules/overmap/planets/planet_templates.dm
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 	var/ore_node_seeder_type = /datum/ore_node_seeder
 
 /datum/planet_template/proc/LoadTemplate(datum/overmap_sun_system/system, coordinate_x, coordinate_y)
+	#ifndef DISABLE_OVERMAP_ZS
 	var/old_z = world.maxz
 	var/datum/overmap_object/linked_overmap_object = new overmap_type(system, coordinate_x, coordinate_y)
 	var/picked_rock_color = CHECK_AND_PICK_OR_NULL(rock_color)
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@
 			WARNING("No area type passed on planet generation")
 		if(!generator_type)
 			WARNING("No generator type passed on planet generation")
+
 		var/datum/space_level/new_level = SSmapping.add_new_zlevel(name, default_traits_input, overmap_obj = linked_overmap_object)
 		if(picked_rock_color)
 			new_level.rock_color = picked_rock_color
@@ -113,6 +115,9 @@
 
 	//Pass them to the ruin seeder
 	SeedRuins(z_levels)
+	#else
+	return
+	#endif
 
 //Due to the particular way ruins are seeded right now this will be handled through a proc, rather than data-driven as of now
 /datum/planet_template/proc/SeedRuins(list/z_levels)