diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
index 01ae02ef39..4437cace1d 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/config/Config.scala
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ object Config extends Logging {
       CConfig.fromString("<akka></akka>") // default empty config
     }
   }
+  if (config.getBool("akka.enable-jmx", true)) config.registerWithJmx("akka")
 
   val CONFIG_VERSION = config.getString("akka.version", VERSION)
   if (VERSION != CONFIG_VERSION) throw new ConfigurationException(
diff --git a/config/akka-reference.conf b/config/akka-reference.conf
index 3301c7f46e..5634c39c09 100644
--- a/config/akka-reference.conf
+++ b/config/akka-reference.conf
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ akka {
 
   time-unit = "seconds"    # Time unit for all timeout properties throughout the config
 
+  enable-jmx = on          # expose the configuration through JMX
+
   # These boot classes are loaded (and created) automatically when the Akka Microkernel boots up
   #     Can be used to bootstrap your application(s)
   #     Should be the FQN (Fully Qualified Name) of the boot class which needs to have a default constructor