diff --git a/plinth/app.py b/plinth/app.py
index 6969720f1..c093ceb32 100644
--- a/plinth/app.py
+++ b/plinth/app.py
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ class App:
     the app. This flag is currently set during backup and restore operations
     but UI changes are currently not implemented.
 
+    'configure_when_disabled' is a boolean indicating whether the app can
+    configured while it is disabled. Some apps such those whose configuration
+    is stored in a database can't be configured while they are disabled because
+    the database server may not be running when the app is disabled.
     """
 
     app_id: str | None = None
@@ -51,6 +55,8 @@ class App:
     locked: bool = False  # Whether user interaction with the app is allowed.
     # XXX: Lockdown the application UI by implementing a middleware
 
+    configure_when_disabled: bool = True
+
     _all_apps: ClassVar[collections.OrderedDict[
         str, 'App']] = collections.OrderedDict()
 
diff --git a/plinth/tests/test_app.py b/plinth/tests/test_app.py
index 86bcfec65..1ea6fc523 100644
--- a/plinth/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/plinth/tests/test_app.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ def test_app_instantiation():
     assert app.app_id == 'test-app'
     assert app._all_apps['test-app'] == app
     assert len(app._all_apps) == 1
+    assert app.can_be_disabled
+    assert not app.locked
+    assert app.configure_when_disabled
 
 
 def test_app_get():
diff --git a/plinth/views.py b/plinth/views.py
index da37eeaea..e79c3fb5e 100644
--- a/plinth/views.py
+++ b/plinth/views.py
@@ -215,6 +215,11 @@ class AppView(FormView):
         if not self.form_class:
             return None
 
+        if not self.app.configure_when_disabled:
+            status = self.get_common_status()
+            if not status['is_enabled']:
+                return None
+
         return super().get_form(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def _get_common_status(self):