diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
index 1ca3fbaa10..feecfd0e45 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/getting_started/index.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import ImmutablePropTypes from 'react-immutable-proptypes';
 import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
-import { me, invitesEnabled, version } from '../../initial_state';
+import { me, invitesEnabled, version, profile_directory } from '../../initial_state';
 import { fetchFollowRequests } from '../../actions/accounts';
 import { List as ImmutableList } from 'immutable';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
 
           <div className='getting-started__footer'>
             <ul>
-              <li><a href='/explore' target='_blank'><FormattedMessage id='getting_started.directory' defaultMessage='Profile directory' /></a> · </li>
+              {profile_directory && <li><a href='/explore' target='_blank'><FormattedMessage id='getting_started.directory' defaultMessage='Profile directory' /></a> · </li>}
               {invitesEnabled && <li><a href='/invites' target='_blank'><FormattedMessage id='getting_started.invite' defaultMessage='Invite people' /></a> · </li>}
               {multiColumn && <li><Link to='/keyboard-shortcuts'><FormattedMessage id='navigation_bar.keyboard_shortcuts' defaultMessage='Hotkeys' /></Link> · </li>}
               <li><a href='/auth/edit'><FormattedMessage id='getting_started.security' defaultMessage='Security' /></a> · </li>
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/initial_state.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/initial_state.js
index 6e9e3ddd84..b496c57d2d 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/initial_state.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/initial_state.js
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ export const searchEnabled = getMeta('search_enabled');
 export const invitesEnabled = getMeta('invites_enabled');
 export const version = getMeta('version');
 export const mascot = getMeta('mascot');
+export const profile_directory = getMeta('profile_directory');
 
 export default initialState;
diff --git a/app/serializers/initial_state_serializer.rb b/app/serializers/initial_state_serializer.rb
index 57f1e00984..d40379d43a 100644
--- a/app/serializers/initial_state_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/serializers/initial_state_serializer.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class InitialStateSerializer < ActiveModel::Serializer
       version: Mastodon::Version.to_s,
       invites_enabled: Setting.min_invite_role == 'user',
       mascot: instance_presenter.mascot&.file&.url,
+      profile_directory: Setting.profile_directory,
     }
 
     if object.current_account