diff --git a/cmd/cluster-agent/subcommands/start/command.go b/cmd/cluster-agent/subcommands/start/command.go
index eac57acf33b00..8132cbee8a3f3 100644
--- a/cmd/cluster-agent/subcommands/start/command.go
+++ b/cmd/cluster-agent/subcommands/start/command.go
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ func start(log log.Component,
 		}()
 	}
 
-	if config.GetBool("cluster_agent.language_detection.patcher.enabled") {
+	if config.GetBool("language_detection.enabled") && config.GetBool("cluster_agent.language_detection.patcher.enabled") {
 		if err = languagedetection.Start(mainCtx, wmeta, log); err != nil {
 			log.Errorf("Cannot start language detection patcher: %v", err)
 		}