diff --git a/networking_aci/__init__.py b/networking_aci/__init__.py
index f7f0240..cbf2f08 100644
--- a/networking_aci/__init__.py
+++ b/networking_aci/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
-import eventlet
-eventlet.monkey_patch()
+import os
+
+if not os.environ.get('DISABLE_EVENTLET_PATCHING'):
+    import eventlet
+    eventlet.monkey_patch()