diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/common/ParameterConstants.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/common/ParameterConstants.java
index 8cf69132ac..3f9afa2714 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/common/ParameterConstants.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/common/ParameterConstants.java
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ private ParameterConstants() {
     public final static String REGISTRATION_REOPEN_USE_SAME_PASSWORD = "registration.reopen.use.same.password";
     public final static String REGISTRATION_REQUIRE_NODE_GROUP_LINK = "registration.require.node.group.link";
     public final static String REGISTRATION_REINITIALIZE_ENABLED = "registration.reinitialize.enable";
+    public final static String REGISTRATION_REQUIRE_INITIAL_LOAD = "registration.require.initial.load";
 
     public final static String REGISTRATION_URL = "registration.url";
     public final static String SYNC_URL = "sync.url";
diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/service/impl/RegistrationService.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/service/impl/RegistrationService.java
index ba7bdabd65..a5de10c6e6 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/service/impl/RegistrationService.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/service/impl/RegistrationService.java
@@ -165,8 +165,9 @@ protected Node processRegistration(Node nodePriorToRegistration, String remoteHo
                  * registration is not allowed until this node has an identity
                  * and an initial load
                  */
+                boolean requiresInitialLoad = parameterService.is(ParameterConstants.REGISTRATION_REQUIRE_INITIAL_LOAD, true);
                 NodeSecurity security = nodeService.findNodeSecurity(identity.getNodeId());
-                if (security == null || security.getInitialLoadTime() == null) {
+                if (requiresInitialLoad && (security == null || security.getInitialLoadTime() == null)) {
                     RegistrationRequest req = new RegistrationRequest(nodePriorToRegistration,
                             RegistrationStatus.ER, remoteHost, remoteAddress);
                     req.setErrorMessage("Cannot register a client node until this node has an initial load (ie. node_security.initial_load_time is a non null value)");
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ public boolean registerNode(Node nodePriorToRegistration, String remoteHost,
              * the configuration for the node
              */
             outgoingBatchService.markAllConfigAsSentForNode(processedNode.getNodeId());
-        	extractConfiguration(out, processedNode);
+            extractConfiguration(out, processedNode);
         }
         
         return processedNode.isSyncEnabled();
diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/resources/symmetric-default.properties b/symmetric-core/src/main/resources/symmetric-default.properties
index 7dba068826..77fd70ecc6 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/resources/symmetric-default.properties
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/resources/symmetric-default.properties
@@ -500,6 +500,14 @@ registration.reopen.use.same.password=true
 # Type: boolean
 registration.reinitialize.enable=false
 
+
+# When this is set to true a node will have to have had an initial load prior to allowing other nodes to register with it
+#
+# DatabaseOverridable: true
+# Tags: registration
+# Type: boolean
+registration.require.initial.load=true
+
 # Initial load and reload events should normally block other channels to ensure each table
 # is loaded first followed by changes captured during the initial load.  Setting this to false
 # will allow all channels to load in priority order even when reload events or