diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 93b82325..1c7d1529 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ LNBITS_SERVICE_FEE="0.0"
 LNBITS_RESERVE_FEE_MIN=2000
 # value in percent
 LNBITS_RESERVE_FEE_PERCENT=1.0
+# check invoice expiry on every startup (can be slow on large instances)
+STARTUP_INVOICE_EXPIRY_CHECK=True
 
 # Change theme
 LNBITS_SITE_TITLE="LNbits"
diff --git a/lnbits/settings.py b/lnbits/settings.py
index 3f4e31cc..9fc3c197 100644
--- a/lnbits/settings.py
+++ b/lnbits/settings.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ PREFER_SECURE_URLS = env.bool("LNBITS_FORCE_HTTPS", default=True)
 RESERVE_FEE_MIN = env.int("LNBITS_RESERVE_FEE_MIN", default=2000)
 RESERVE_FEE_PERCENT = env.float("LNBITS_RESERVE_FEE_PERCENT", default=1.0)
 SERVICE_FEE = env.float("LNBITS_SERVICE_FEE", default=0.0)
+STARTUP_INVOICE_EXPIRY_CHECK = env.bool("STARTUP_INVOICE_EXPIRY_CHECK", default=True)
 
 try:
     LNBITS_COMMIT = (
diff --git a/lnbits/tasks.py b/lnbits/tasks.py
index 94e43dcf..26758303 100644
--- a/lnbits/tasks.py
+++ b/lnbits/tasks.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from lnbits.core.crud import (
     get_standalone_payment,
 )
 from lnbits.core.services import redeem_lnurl_withdraw
-from lnbits.settings import WALLET
+from lnbits.settings import WALLET, STARTUP_INVOICE_EXPIRY_CHECK
 
 from .core import db
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ async def check_pending_payments():
                 f"Task: pending check finished for {len(pending_payments)} payments (took {time.time() - start_time:0.3f} s)"
             )
             # we delete expired invoices once upon the first pending check
-            if incoming:
+            if incoming and STARTUP_INVOICE_EXPIRY_CHECK:
                 logger.debug("Task: deleting all expired invoices")
                 start_time: float = time.time()
                 await delete_expired_invoices(conn=conn)