diff --git a/sanic/app.py b/sanic/app.py
index 81cd66d1..7ddbbdbc 100644
--- a/sanic/app.py
+++ b/sanic/app.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class Sanic:
         strict_slashes=False,
         log_config=None,
         configure_logging=True,
+        register=None,
     ):
 
         # Get name from previous stack frame
@@ -88,7 +89,11 @@ class Sanic:
         # Register alternative method names
         self.go_fast = self.run
 
-        self.__class__.register_app(self)
+        if register is not None:
+            self.config.REGISTER = register
+
+        if self.config.REGISTER:
+            self.__class__.register_app(self)
 
     @property
     def loop(self):
diff --git a/sanic/config.py b/sanic/config.py
index 55ab7b51..e3d50227 100644
--- a/sanic/config.py
+++ b/sanic/config.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
     "PROXIES_COUNT": None,
     "FORWARDED_FOR_HEADER": "X-Forwarded-For",
     "FALLBACK_ERROR_FORMAT": "html",
+    "REGISTER": True,
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 7527b1c2..36f30375 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import logging
 import sys
 
 from inspect import isawaitable
+from os import environ
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -290,6 +291,7 @@ def test_app_registry_name_reuse():
     with pytest.raises(SanicException):
         Sanic("test")
     Sanic.test_mode = True
+    Sanic("test")
 
 
 def test_app_registry_retrieval():
@@ -306,3 +308,17 @@ def test_get_app_does_not_exist_force_create():
     assert isinstance(
         Sanic.get_app("does-not-exist", force_create=True), Sanic
     )
+
+
+def test_app_no_registry():
+    Sanic("no-register", register=False)
+    with pytest.raises(SanicException):
+        Sanic.get_app("no-register")
+
+
+def test_app_no_registry_env():
+    environ["SANIC_REGISTER"] = "False"
+    Sanic("no-register")
+    with pytest.raises(SanicException):
+        Sanic.get_app("no-register")
+    del environ["SANIC_REGISTER"]