diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5c1f1d019..ce9fc6455 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ It is highly recommended you set the following environment values before startin
 | DISCORD_PRE_START_MESSAGE | Discord message sent when server begins to start | Server is started! | "string" |
 | DISCORD_PRE_SHUTDOWN_MESSAGE | Discord message sent when server begins to shutdown | Server is shutting down... | "string" |
 | DISCORD_POST_SHUTDOWN_MESSAGE | Discord message sent when server has stopped | Server is stopped! | "string" |
+| DISABLE_GENERATE_SETTINGS | Whether to automatically generate the PalWorldSettings.ini | false | true/false |
 
 *highly recommended to set
 
diff --git a/scripts/start.sh b/scripts/start.sh
index 5b07f5421..1582b6c62 100644
--- a/scripts/start.sh
+++ b/scripts/start.sh
@@ -54,9 +54,30 @@ dirExists "/palworld" || exit
 isWritable "/palworld" || exit
 isExecutable "/palworld" || exit
 
-printf "\e[0;32m*****GENERATING CONFIGS*****\e[0m\n"
 
-./compile-settings.sh
+if [ "${DISABLE_GENERATE_SETTINGS,,}" = false ]; then
+  printf "\e[0;32m*****GENERATING CONFIGS*****\e[0m\n"
+  ./compile-settings.sh
+else
+  printf "\e[0;32m%s\e[0m\n" "*****CHECKING FOR EXISTING CONFIG*****"
+
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2143
+  if [ ! "$(grep -s '[^[:space:]]' /palworld/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini)" ]; then
+
+      printf "\e[0;32m%s\e[0m\n" "*****GENERATING CONFIG*****"
+
+      # Server will generate all ini files after first run.
+      if [ "$architecture" == "arm64" ]; then
+          timeout --preserve-status 15s ./PalServer-arm64.sh 1> /dev/null
+      else
+          timeout --preserve-status 15s ./PalServer.sh 1> /dev/null
+      fi
+
+      # Wait for shutdown
+      sleep 5
+      cp /palworld/DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini /palworld/Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini
+  fi
+fi
 
 cd /palworld || exit