diff --git a/sanic/app.py b/sanic/app.py
index d4ee8275..1f8869f4 100644
--- a/sanic/app.py
+++ b/sanic/app.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class Sanic:
 
     def __init__(self, name=None, router=None, error_handler=None,
                  load_env=True, request_class=None,
-                 log_config=LOGGING):
+                 log_config=LOGGING, merge_routes=True):
         if log_config:
             logging.config.dictConfig(log_config)
         # Only set up a default log handler if the
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class Sanic:
         self.is_request_stream = False
         self.websocket_enabled = False
         self.websocket_tasks = []
+        self.merge_routes = merge_routes
 
         # Register alternative method names
         self.go_fast = self.run
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ class Sanic:
                 handler.is_stream = stream
             self.router.add(uri=uri, methods=methods, handler=handler,
                             host=host, strict_slashes=strict_slashes,
-                            version=version)
+                            version=version, merge_routes=self.merge_routes)
             return handler
 
         return response
diff --git a/sanic/router.py b/sanic/router.py
index efc48f37..c0cb226d 100644
--- a/sanic/router.py
+++ b/sanic/router.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Router:
         return name, _type, pattern
 
     def add(self, uri, methods, handler, host=None, strict_slashes=False,
-            version=None):
+            version=None, merge_routes=True):
         """Add a handler to the route list
 
         :param uri: path to match
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class Router:
             else:
                 uri = "/".join(["/v{}".format(str(version)), uri])
         # add regular version
-        self._add(uri, methods, handler, host)
+        self._add(uri, methods, handler, host, merge_routes=merge_routes)
 
         if strict_slashes:
             return
@@ -135,12 +135,15 @@ class Router:
         )
         # add version with trailing slash
         if slash_is_missing:
-            self._add(uri + '/', methods, handler, host)
+            self._add(uri + '/', methods, handler, host,
+                      merge_routes=merge_routes)
         # add version without trailing slash
         elif without_slash_is_missing:
-            self._add(uri[:-1], methods, handler, host)
+            self._add(uri[:-1], methods, handler, host,
+                      merge_routes=merge_routes)
 
-    def _add(self, uri, methods, handler, host=None):
+    def _add(self, uri, methods, handler, host=None,
+             merge_routes=True):
         """Add a handler to the route list
 
         :param uri: path to match
@@ -229,7 +232,7 @@ class Router:
         else:
             route = self.routes_all.get(uri)
 
-        if route:
+        if route and merge_routes:
             route = merge_route(route, methods, handler)
         else:
             # prefix the handler name with the blueprint name