diff --git a/storage/conf.nim b/storage/conf.nim
index af9e871e..80c48b6f 100644
--- a/storage/conf.nim
+++ b/storage/conf.nim
@@ -319,6 +319,12 @@ type
       name: "nat-max-relays"
     .}: int
 
+    relay* {.
+      desc: "Enable circuit relay server (hop) - use on publicly reachable nodes only",
+      defaultValue: false,
+      name: "relay"
+    .}: bool
+
 func defaultAddress*(conf: StorageConf): IpAddress =
   result = static parseIpAddress("127.0.0.1")
 
diff --git a/storage/storage.nim b/storage/storage.nim
index ff9d97b3..86441170 100644
--- a/storage/storage.nim
+++ b/storage/storage.nim
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ proc new*(
   ## create StorageServer including setting up datastore, repostore, etc
   let listenMultiAddr = getMultiAddrWithIpAndTcpPort(config.listenIp, config.listenPort)
 
-  let relayClient = relayClientModule.RelayClient.new()
+  let relayClient = relayClientModule.RelayClient.new(canHop = config.relay)
 
   let autonatClient = AutonatV2Client.new(random.Rng.instance())
   let autonatService = AutonatV2Service.new(