diff --git a/lib/config/load.js b/lib/config/load.js
index 5d222416..25a1b7f7 100644
--- a/lib/config/load.js
+++ b/lib/config/load.js
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ function normaliseRules(options, ready) {
   rules.ignore.add(options.ignore);
 
   // normalise the watch and ignore arrays
-  options.watch = rules.rules.watch;
+  options.watch = options.watch === false ? false : rules.rules.watch;
   options.ignore = rules.rules.ignore;
 
   ready(options);
diff --git a/lib/monitor/run.js b/lib/monitor/run.js
index 988e7e9c..d45aed77 100644
--- a/lib/monitor/run.js
+++ b/lib/monitor/run.js
@@ -237,8 +237,10 @@ function run(options) {
     });
   }
 
-  debug('about to watch');
-  watch();
+  debug('start watch on: %s', config.options.watch);
+  if (config.options.watch !== false) {
+    watch();
+  }
 }
 
 function kill(child, signal, callback) {