diff --git a/jupyter_collaboration/app.py b/jupyter_collaboration/app.py
index 23f96132..ff337460 100644
--- a/jupyter_collaboration/app.py
+++ b/jupyter_collaboration/app.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import asyncio
 
 from jupyter_server.extension.application import ExtensionApp
-from traitlets import Float, Type
+from traitlets import Bool, Float, Type
 from ypy_websocket.ystore import BaseYStore
 
 from .handlers import DocSessionHandler, YDocWebSocketHandler
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@
 
 class YDocExtension(ExtensionApp):
     name = "jupyter_collaboration"
+    app_name = "Collaboration"
+    description = """
+    Enables Real Time Collaboration in JupyterLab
+    """
+
+    disable_rtc = Bool(False, config=True, help="Whether to disable real time collaboration.")
 
     file_poll_interval = Float(
         1,
@@ -66,6 +72,10 @@ def initialize_settings(self):
         )
 
     def initialize_handlers(self):
+        self.serverapp.web_app.settings.setdefault(
+            "page_config_data", {"disableRTC": self.disable_rtc}
+        )
+
         # Set configurable parameters to YStore class
         for k, v in self.config.get(self.ystore_class.__name__, {}).items():
             setattr(self.ystore_class, k, v)
diff --git a/packages/docprovider/src/ydrive.ts b/packages/docprovider/src/ydrive.ts
index 0c93cf59..ba622b02 100644
--- a/packages/docprovider/src/ydrive.ts
+++ b/packages/docprovider/src/ydrive.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 // Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-import { URLExt } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
+import { PageConfig, URLExt } from '@jupyterlab/coreutils';
 import { TranslationBundle } from '@jupyterlab/translation';
 import { Contents, Drive, User } from '@jupyterlab/services';
 
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import {
   SharedDocumentFactory
 } from './tokens';
 
+const DISABLE_RTC =
+  PageConfig.getOption('disableRTC') === 'true' ? true : false;
+
 /**
  * The url for the default drive service.
  */
@@ -177,7 +180,7 @@ class SharedModelFactory implements ISharedModelFactory {
   /**
    * Whether the IDrive supports real-time collaboration or not.
    */
-  readonly collaborative = true;
+  readonly collaborative = !DISABLE_RTC;
 
   /**
    * Register a SharedDocumentFactory.
@@ -208,7 +211,7 @@ class SharedModelFactory implements ISharedModelFactory {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (!options.collaborative) {
+    if (!this.collaborative || !options.collaborative) {
       // Bail if the document model does not support collaboration
       // the `sharedModel` will be the default one.
       return;
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b5a4fb34..35964091 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ dependencies = [
     "jupyter_ydoc>=1.1.0a0,<2.0.0",
     "ypy-websocket>=0.12.1,<0.13.0",
     "jupyter_events",
-    "jupyter_server_fileid>=0.6.0,<1"
+    "jupyter_server_fileid>=0.6.0,<1",
+    "jsonschema[format-nongpl,format_nongpl]<4.18.0" # https://github.com/jupyter/jupyter_events/pull/80
 ]
 dynamic = ["version", "description", "authors", "urls", "keywords"]