diff --git a/src/sbbs3/main.cpp b/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
index 41ef5e5839f9f8a3e832367546e7c56b80e3dc01..29e7bc4921e2a3ca5a3e27e0fbed6fd2abd1065f 100644
--- a/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
+++ b/src/sbbs3/main.cpp
@@ -1488,6 +1488,9 @@ void sbbs_t::send_telnet_cmd(uchar cmd, uchar opt)
 
 bool sbbs_t::request_telnet_opt(uchar cmd, uchar opt, unsigned waitforack)
 {
+	if(telnet_mode&TELNET_MODE_OFF)	
+		return false;
+
 	if(cmd==TELNET_DO || cmd==TELNET_DONT) {	/* remote option */
 		if(telnet_remote_option[opt]==telnet_opt_ack(cmd))
 			return true;	/* already set in this mode, do nothing */