diff --git a/_config.php b/_config.php
index 85a71c9..1071adc 100644
--- a/_config.php
+++ b/_config.php
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@
  * consult the Commenting class.
  */
 
-if(class_exists('SiteTree') && !Commenting::has_commenting('SiteTree')) {
+if(Config::inst()->get('Commenting', 'sitetree_comments') && class_exists('SiteTree') && !Commenting::has_commenting('SiteTree')) {
 	Commenting::add('SiteTree');
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/code/Commenting.php b/code/Commenting.php
index 2ea6827..affeb04 100644
--- a/code/Commenting.php
+++ b/code/Commenting.php
@@ -13,12 +13,18 @@
  */
 
 class Commenting {
-	
+
 	/**
 	 * @var array map of enabled {@link DataObject} and related configuration
 	 */
 	private static $enabled_classes = array();
-	
+
+	/**
+	 * @config
+	 * @var bool Whether to enable commenting on SiteTree objects by default
+	 */
+	private static $sitetree_comments = true;
+
 	/**
 	 * @var array default configuration values
 	 */
diff --git a/code/extensions/CommentsExtension.php b/code/extensions/CommentsExtension.php
index baffb25..53065db 100644
--- a/code/extensions/CommentsExtension.php
+++ b/code/extensions/CommentsExtension.php
@@ -107,17 +107,17 @@ class CommentsExtension extends DataExtension {
 
 		// do not include the comments on pages which don't have id's such as security pages
 		if($this->owner->ID < 0) return false;
-		
-		$controller = new CommentingController();		
+
+		$controller = CommentingController::create();
 		$controller->setOwnerRecord($this->owner);
 		$controller->setBaseClass($this->ownerBaseClass);
 		$controller->setOwnerController(Controller::curr());
 
 		$moderatedSubmitted = Session::get('CommentsModerated');
 		Session::clear('CommentsModerated');
-		
+
 		$form = ($enabled) ? $controller->CommentsForm() : false;
-		
+
 		// a little bit all over the show but to ensure a slightly easier upgrade for users
 		// return back the same variables as previously done in comments
 		return $interface->process(new ArrayData(array(