diff --git a/nanobot/cli/commands.py b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
index acebdabfd..e4a101c08 100644
--- a/nanobot/cli/commands.py
+++ b/nanobot/cli/commands.py
@@ -1174,13 +1174,16 @@ def _run_gateway(
     agent.dream.max_iterations = dream_cfg.max_iterations
     agent.dream.annotate_line_ages = dream_cfg.annotate_line_ages
     from nanobot.cron.types import CronJob, CronPayload, CronSchedule
-    cron.register_system_job(CronJob(
-        id="dream",
-        name="dream",
-        schedule=dream_cfg.build_schedule(config.agents.defaults.timezone),
-        payload=CronPayload(kind="system_event"),
-    ))
-    console.print(f"[green]✓[/green] Dream: {dream_cfg.describe_schedule()}")
+    if dream_cfg.enabled:
+        cron.register_system_job(CronJob(
+            id="dream",
+            name="dream",
+            schedule=dream_cfg.build_schedule(config.agents.defaults.timezone),
+            payload=CronPayload(kind="system_event"),
+        ))
+        console.print(f"[green]✓[/green] Dream: {dream_cfg.describe_schedule()}")
+    else:
+        console.print("[yellow]○[/yellow] Dream: disabled")
 
     # Register Heartbeat system job (idempotent on restart)
     if hb_cfg.enabled:
diff --git a/nanobot/config/schema.py b/nanobot/config/schema.py
index 1cfbaca5a..2a89d04c5 100644
--- a/nanobot/config/schema.py
+++ b/nanobot/config/schema.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class DreamConfig(Base):
 
     _HOUR_MS = 3_600_000
 
+    enabled: bool = True  # Register the periodic Dream consolidation job on startup
     interval_h: int = Field(default=2, ge=1)  # Every 2 hours by default
     cron: str | None = Field(default=None, exclude=True)  # Legacy compatibility override
     model_override: str | None = Field(