diff --git a/src/afs/afs_daemons.c b/src/afs/afs_daemons.c
index cf64703e10..1634b7ffd5 100644
--- a/src/afs/afs_daemons.c
+++ b/src/afs/afs_daemons.c
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ short afs_brsDaemons = 0;	/* number of daemons waiting for brs requests */
 struct brequest afs_brs[NBRS];	/* request structures */
 struct afs_osi_WaitHandle AFS_WaitHandler, AFS_CSWaitHandler;
 static int afs_brs_count = 0;	/* request counter, to service reqs in order */
+#ifdef AFS_DISABLE_BKG
+extern int disable_bkg = AFS_DISABLE_BKG;
+#endif
 
 static int rxepoch_checked = 0;
 #define afs_CheckRXEpoch() {if (rxepoch_checked == 0 && rxkad_EpochWasSet) { \
@@ -563,6 +566,10 @@ int
 afs_BBusy(void)
 {
     AFS_STATCNT(afs_BBusy);
+#ifdef AFS_DISABLE_BKG
+    if (disable_bkg)
+	return 1;
+#endif
     if (afs_brsDaemons > 0)
 	return 0;
     return 1;
diff --git a/src/config/param.ppc_darwin_80.h b/src/config/param.ppc_darwin_80.h
index 097f88d89d..cdcb301c60 100644
--- a/src/config/param.ppc_darwin_80.h
+++ b/src/config/param.ppc_darwin_80.h
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
 #define AFS_NONFSTRANS
 #define AFS_SYSCALL             230
 #define DARWIN_REFBASE 0
+#define AFS_DISABLE_BKG 1
 
 /* File system entry (used if mount.h doesn't define MOUNT_AFS */
 #define AFS_MOUNT_AFS    "afs"