diff --git a/verifier/reader.go b/verifier/reader.go
index 75322d8..e7cec50 100644
--- a/verifier/reader.go
+++ b/verifier/reader.go
@@ -91,11 +91,15 @@ func (v *Verifier) verifyRecords() {
 
 		// assume we'll need to switch on error type here
 		if err != nil {
-			v.Metrics.Errors.Add(context.Background(), 1)
-			v.Metrics.Misses.Add(context.Background(), 1)
+			if v.Metrics != nil {
+				v.Metrics.Errors.Add(context.Background(), 1)
+				v.Metrics.Misses.Add(context.Background(), 1)
+			}
 			v.errCh <- err
 		} else {
-			v.Metrics.Reads.Add(context.Background(), 1)
+			if v.Metrics != nil {
+				v.Metrics.Reads.Add(context.Background(), 1)
+			}
 		}
 
 		delete(v.History.Logs, key)
diff --git a/verifier/verifier.go b/verifier/verifier.go
index 111fb92..499268e 100644
--- a/verifier/verifier.go
+++ b/verifier/verifier.go
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ func NewVerifier(ctx context.Context) (*Verifier, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	m, err := metrics.NewMetrics()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	var m *metrics.Metrics
+
+	if config.Read().MetricsEnabled {
+		m, err = metrics.NewMetrics()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return &Verifier{