diff --git a/doc/rinterface.rst b/doc/rinterface.rst
index f6f6453b3..f9b4ed379 100644
--- a/doc/rinterface.rst
+++ b/doc/rinterface.rst
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ can also be triggered indirectly, as some on the R functions will behave
 differently when run interactively compared to when run in the so-called
 *BATCH mode*.
 
+Interactive mode could be disabled by setting environment variable
+`R_INTERACTIVE_MODE` to `False`.
+
 .. note::
 
    However, interactive use may mean the ability to periodically check
diff --git a/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py b/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py
index ccd3a315c..2b48f1882 100644
--- a/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py
+++ b/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py
@@ -232,10 +232,12 @@ def _setcallback(rlib, rlib_symbol: str,
 
 # TODO: can init_once() be used here ?
 def _initr(
-        interactive: bool = True,
+        interactive: bool = None,
         _want_setcallbacks: bool = True,
         _c_stack_limit: int = _DEFAULT_C_STACK_LIMIT
 ) -> typing.Optional[int]:
+    if interactive is None:
+        interactive = os.environ.get('R_INTERACTIVE_MODE', 'True').lower() in ['true', '1', 't']
 
     rlib = openrlib.rlib
     ffi_proxy = openrlib.ffi_proxy