diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cd77336..0ac08a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ Group properties that can be changed include:
 
 #### Verbose Logging
 
-If you would like more verbose logging, you can apply the environment variable `VERBOSE=true` to lazytainer like so
+For more verbose logging, you can apply the environment variable `VERBOSE=true` to lazytainer:
 
 ```yaml
 lazytainer:
@@ -96,6 +96,18 @@ lazytainer:
     - VERBOSE=true
 ```
 
+#### ipv4/ipv6 toggles
+
+To disable ipv4 or ipv6, pass environment variables:
+
+```yaml
+lazytainer:
+  # ... configuration omitted for brevity
+  environment:
+    - IPV6_DISABLED=true
+    - IPV4_DISABLED=true
+```
+
 #### Volumes
 
 If using lazytainer, you MUST provide the following volume to lazytainer
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index 1b10290..7f0a80e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ services:
     # build: .
     environment:
       - VERBOSE=true # probably set this to false unless you're debugging or doing the initial demo
+      - IPV4_DISABLED=false
+      - IPV6_DISABLED=false
     ports:
       - 81:81
       - 82:82
diff --git a/src/group.go b/src/group.go
index 86795d5..fda529f 100644
--- a/src/group.go
+++ b/src/group.go
@@ -148,17 +148,29 @@ func (lg LazyGroup) getRxPackets(packetCount *int) {
 func (lg LazyGroup) getActiveClients() int {
 	// get active clients
 	var allSocks []netstat.SockTabEntry
-	udpSocks, err := netstat.UDPSocks(netstat.NoopFilter)
-	check(err)
-	udp6Socks, err := netstat.UDP6Socks(netstat.NoopFilter)
-	check(err)
-	tcpSocks, err := netstat.TCPSocks(netstat.NoopFilter)
-	check(err)
-	tcp6Socks, err := netstat.TCP6Socks(netstat.NoopFilter)
-	check(err)
+
+	// ipv4
+	if ipv6Enabled {
+		udpSocks, err := netstat.UDPSocks(netstat.NoopFilter)
+		check(err)
+		allSocks = append(allSocks, udpSocks...)
+		tcpSocks, err := netstat.TCPSocks(netstat.NoopFilter)
+		check(err)
+		allSocks = append(allSocks, tcpSocks...)
+	}
+
+	// ipv6
+	if ipv6Enabled {
+		udp6Socks, err := netstat.UDP6Socks(netstat.NoopFilter)
+		check(err)
+		allSocks = append(allSocks, udp6Socks...)
+		tcp6Socks, err := netstat.TCP6Socks(netstat.NoopFilter)
+		check(err)
+		allSocks = append(allSocks, tcp6Socks...)
+	}
 
 	activeClients := 0
-	for _, socketEntry := range append(append(append(append(allSocks, udp6Socks...), tcp6Socks...), tcpSocks...), udpSocks...) {
+	for _, socketEntry := range allSocks {
 		if socketEntry.State.String() == "ESTABLISHED" {
 			for _, aPort := range lg.ports {
 				if strconv.FormatUint(uint64(aPort), 10) == fmt.Sprintf("%v", socketEntry.LocalAddr.Port) {
diff --git a/src/lazytainer.go b/src/lazytainer.go
index 3f35d16..d121970 100644
--- a/src/lazytainer.go
+++ b/src/lazytainer.go
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import (
 var infoLogger *log.Logger
 var debugLogger *log.Logger
 var dockerClient *client.Client
+var ipv6Enabled bool
+var ipv4Enabled bool
 
 func main() {
 	flags := log.LstdFlags | log.Lshortfile
@@ -29,6 +31,22 @@ func main() {
 		debugLogger.SetOutput(io.Discard)
 	}
 
+	// if the IPV6_DISABLED flag isn't set to true, leave ipv6 enabled
+	envIpv6, existsEnvDisableIpv6 := os.LookupEnv("IPV6_DISABLED")
+	if existsEnvDisableIpv6 && strings.ToLower(envIpv6) != "true" {
+		ipv6Enabled = true
+	} else {
+		ipv6Enabled = false
+	}
+
+	// if the IPV4_DISABLED flag isn't set to true, leave ipv4 enabled
+	envIpv4, existsEnvDisableIpv4 := os.LookupEnv("IPV4_DISABLED")
+	if existsEnvDisableIpv4 && strings.ToLower(envIpv4) != "true" {
+		ipv4Enabled = true
+	} else {
+		ipv4Enabled = false
+	}
+
 	// configure groups. eventually it might be nice to have file based config as well.
 	groups := configureFromLabels()
 	for _, v := range groups {