diff --git a/.changeset/quiet-pugs-rule.md b/.changeset/quiet-pugs-rule.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4399bc1c39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/quiet-pugs-rule.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+---
+"@latticexyz/world": patch
+---
+
+Added `deploy` config options to systems in the MUD config:
+
+- `disabled` to toggle deploying the system (defaults to `false`)
+- `registerWorldFunctions` to toggle registering namespace-prefixed system functions on the world (defaults to `true`)
+
+```ts
+import { defineWorld } from "@latticexyz/world";
+
+export default defineWorld({
+  systems: {
+    HiddenSystem: {
+      deploy: {
+        registerWorldFunctions: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
+});
+```
diff --git a/docs/pages/config/reference.mdx b/docs/pages/config/reference.mdx
index 8c2bb986b0..17c45833d8 100644
--- a/docs/pages/config/reference.mdx
+++ b/docs/pages/config/reference.mdx
@@ -65,6 +65,15 @@ The MUD config has two modes: single namespace and multiple namespaces. By defau
       </Param>
       <Param name="openAccess">Whether or not any address can call this system. Defaults to `true`.</Param>
       <Param name="accessList">A list of contract addresses or system labels that can call this system, used with `openAccess: false`.</Param>
+      <Param name="deploy">
+        Customize how to deploy this system.
+
+        <Params>
+          <Param name="disabled">Disable deployment of this system. Defaults to `false`.</Param>
+          <Param name="registerWorldFunctions">Whether this system's functions should be registered on the world, prefixed with the system namespace. Defaults to `true`.</Param>
+        </Params>
+
+      </Param>
     </Params>
 
   </Param>
diff --git a/e2e/packages/contracts/mud.config.ts b/e2e/packages/contracts/mud.config.ts
index 14c972dd50..db69f40144 100644
--- a/e2e/packages/contracts/mud.config.ts
+++ b/e2e/packages/contracts/mud.config.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ export default defineWorld({
       key: [],
     },
   },
+  systems: {
+    HiddenSystem: {
+      deploy: {
+        registerWorldFunctions: false,
+      },
+    },
+  },
   modules: [
     {
       artifactPath:
diff --git a/e2e/packages/contracts/src/systems/HiddenSystem.sol b/e2e/packages/contracts/src/systems/HiddenSystem.sol
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ad4b56a11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/packages/contracts/src/systems/HiddenSystem.sol
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+pragma solidity >=0.8.24;
+
+import { System } from "@latticexyz/world/src/System.sol";
+
+contract HiddenSystem is System {
+  function hidden() public {
+    // this system is only callable with system ID, not via world
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/deploy/common.ts b/packages/cli/src/deploy/common.ts
index 4714d7a934..8116043f2b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/deploy/common.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/deploy/common.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export type System = DeterministicContract & {
   readonly allowAll: boolean;
   readonly allowedAddresses: readonly Hex[];
   readonly allowedSystemIds: readonly Hex[];
-  readonly functions: readonly WorldFunction[];
+  readonly worldFunctions: readonly WorldFunction[];
 };
 
 export type DeployedSystem = Omit<System, "abi" | "prepareDeploy" | "deployedBytecodeSize" | "allowedSystemIds"> & {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/deploy/deploy.ts b/packages/cli/src/deploy/deploy.ts
index ee148df050..76384c6de3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/deploy/deploy.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/deploy/deploy.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export async function deploy({
   const functionTxs = await ensureFunctions({
     client,
     worldDeploy,
-    functions: systems.flatMap((system) => system.functions),
+    functions: systems.flatMap((system) => system.worldFunctions),
   });
   const moduleTxs = await ensureModules({
     client,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/deploy/getSystems.ts b/packages/cli/src/deploy/getSystems.ts
index 07b14974a7..70b88132d2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/deploy/getSystems.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/deploy/getSystems.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export async function getSystems({
         table: worldConfig.namespaces.world.tables.Systems,
         key: { systemId: system.resourceId },
       });
-      const systemFunctions = functions.filter((func) => func.systemId === system.resourceId);
+      const worldFunctions = functions.filter((func) => func.systemId === system.resourceId);
       return {
         address,
         namespace: system.namespace,
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export async function getSystems({
         allowedAddresses: resourceAccess
           .filter(({ resourceId }) => resourceId === system.resourceId)
           .map(({ address }) => address),
-        functions: systemFunctions,
+        worldFunctions,
       };
     }),
   );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/deploy/resolveConfig.ts b/packages/cli/src/deploy/resolveConfig.ts
index e22e8daffe..9209456f2f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/deploy/resolveConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/deploy/resolveConfig.ts
@@ -41,45 +41,49 @@ export async function resolveConfig({
 
   const configSystems = await resolveSystems({ rootDir, config });
 
-  const systems = configSystems.map((system): System => {
-    const contractData = getContractData(`${system.label}.sol`, system.label, forgeOutDir);
+  const systems = configSystems
+    .filter((system) => !system.deploy.disabled)
+    .map((system): System => {
+      const contractData = getContractData(`${system.label}.sol`, system.label, forgeOutDir);
 
-    const systemFunctions = contractData.abi
-      .filter((item): item is typeof item & { type: "function" } => item.type === "function")
-      .map(toFunctionSignature)
-      .filter((sig) => !baseSystemFunctions.includes(sig))
-      .map((sig): WorldFunction => {
-        // TODO: figure out how to not duplicate contract behavior (https://github.com/latticexyz/mud/issues/1708)
-        const worldSignature = system.namespace === "" ? sig : `${system.namespace}__${sig}`;
-        return {
-          signature: worldSignature,
-          selector: toFunctionSelector(worldSignature),
-          systemId: system.systemId,
-          systemFunctionSignature: sig,
-          systemFunctionSelector: toFunctionSelector(sig),
-        };
-      });
+      const worldFunctions = system.deploy.registerWorldFunctions
+        ? contractData.abi
+            .filter((item): item is typeof item & { type: "function" } => item.type === "function")
+            .map(toFunctionSignature)
+            .filter((sig) => !baseSystemFunctions.includes(sig))
+            .map((sig): WorldFunction => {
+              // TODO: figure out how to not duplicate contract behavior (https://github.com/latticexyz/mud/issues/1708)
+              const worldSignature = system.namespace === "" ? sig : `${system.namespace}__${sig}`;
+              return {
+                signature: worldSignature,
+                selector: toFunctionSelector(worldSignature),
+                systemId: system.systemId,
+                systemFunctionSignature: sig,
+                systemFunctionSelector: toFunctionSelector(sig),
+              };
+            })
+        : [];
 
-    // TODO: move to resolveSystems?
-    const allowedAddresses = system.accessList.filter((target): target is Hex => isHex(target));
-    const allowedSystemIds = system.accessList
-      .filter((target) => !isHex(target))
-      .map((label) => {
-        const system = configSystems.find((s) => s.label === label)!;
-        return system.systemId;
-      });
+      // TODO: move to resolveSystems?
+      const allowedAddresses = system.accessList.filter((target): target is Hex => isHex(target));
+      const allowedSystemIds = system.accessList
+        .filter((target) => !isHex(target))
+        .map((label) => {
+          const system = configSystems.find((s) => s.label === label)!;
+          return system.systemId;
+        });
 
-    return {
-      ...system,
-      allowAll: system.openAccess,
-      allowedAddresses,
-      allowedSystemIds,
-      prepareDeploy: createPrepareDeploy(contractData.bytecode, contractData.placeholders),
-      deployedBytecodeSize: contractData.deployedBytecodeSize,
-      abi: contractData.abi,
-      functions: systemFunctions,
-    };
-  });
+      return {
+        ...system,
+        allowAll: system.openAccess,
+        allowedAddresses,
+        allowedSystemIds,
+        prepareDeploy: createPrepareDeploy(contractData.bytecode, contractData.placeholders),
+        deployedBytecodeSize: contractData.deployedBytecodeSize,
+        abi: contractData.abi,
+        worldFunctions,
+      };
+    });
 
   // Check for overlapping system IDs (since names get truncated when turning into IDs)
   // TODO: move this into the world config resolve step once it resolves system IDs
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/defaults.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/defaults.ts
index e6e7c571b8..13f77b09fb 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/defaults.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/defaults.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
-import { CodegenInput, DeployInput, ModuleInput, SystemInput, WorldInput } from "./input";
+import { CodegenInput, DeployInput, ModuleInput, SystemDeployInput, SystemInput, WorldInput } from "./input";
+
+export const SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS = {
+  disabled: false,
+  registerWorldFunctions: true,
+} as const satisfies Required<SystemDeployInput>;
+
+export type SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS = typeof SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS;
 
 export const SYSTEM_DEFAULTS = {
   namespace: "",
   openAccess: true,
   accessList: [],
-} as const satisfies Omit<Required<SystemInput>, "label" | "name">;
+} as const satisfies Omit<Required<SystemInput>, "label" | "name" | "deploy">;
 
 export type SYSTEM_DEFAULTS = typeof SYSTEM_DEFAULTS;
 
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/input.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/input.ts
index 48b7799019..9af5b30884 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/input.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/input.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { StoreInput, NamespaceInput as StoreNamespaceInput } from "@latticexyz/store/config/v2";
 import { DynamicResolution, ValueWithType } from "./dynamicResolution";
-import { Codegen } from "./output";
+import { Codegen, SystemDeploy } from "./output";
+
+export type SystemDeployInput = Partial<SystemDeploy>;
 
 export type SystemInput = {
   /**
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ export type SystemInput = {
   readonly openAccess?: boolean;
   /** An array of addresses or system names that can access the system */
   readonly accessList?: readonly string[];
+  readonly deploy?: SystemDeployInput;
 };
 
 export type SystemsInput = {
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/output.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/output.ts
index 2f70ffd759..00e78c83b5 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/output.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/output.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,20 @@ export type Module = {
   readonly artifactPath: string | undefined;
 };
 
+export type SystemDeploy = {
+  /**
+   * Whether or not to deploy the system.
+   * Defaults to `false`.
+   */
+  readonly disabled: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Whether or not to register system functions on the world.
+   * System functions are prefixed with the system namespace when registering on the world, so system function names must be unique within their namespace.
+   * Defaults to `true`.
+   */
+  readonly registerWorldFunctions: boolean;
+};
+
 export type System = {
   /**
    * Human-readable system label. Used as config keys, interface names, and filenames.
@@ -47,6 +61,7 @@ export type System = {
   readonly openAccess: boolean;
   /** An array of addresses or system names that can access the system */
   readonly accessList: readonly string[];
+  readonly deploy: SystemDeploy;
 };
 
 export type Systems = {
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.test.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.test.ts
index 8664100d46..a1a11b08fe 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.test.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ describe("resolveSystem", () => {
       namespace: "",
       name: "ExampleSystem" as string,
       systemId: resourceToHex({ type: "system", namespace: "", name: "ExampleSystem" }),
+      deploy: {
+        disabled: false,
+        registerWorldFunctions: true,
+      },
     } as const;
 
     attest<typeof expected>(system).equals(expected);
@@ -33,6 +37,10 @@ describe("resolveSystem", () => {
       namespace: "",
       name: "ExampleSystem" as string,
       systemId: resourceToHex({ type: "system", namespace: "", name: "ExampleSystem" }),
+      deploy: {
+        disabled: false,
+        registerWorldFunctions: true,
+      },
     } as const;
 
     attest<typeof expected>(system).equals(expected);
@@ -51,6 +59,10 @@ describe("resolveSystem", () => {
       name: "ExampleSystem" as string,
       systemId: resourceToHex({ type: "system", namespace: "", name: "ExampleSystem" }),
       openAccess: false,
+      deploy: {
+        disabled: false,
+        registerWorldFunctions: true,
+      },
     } as const;
 
     attest<typeof expected>(system).equals(expected);
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.ts
index c756699eb1..cc201078a4 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/system.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { SYSTEM_DEFAULTS } from "./defaults";
+import { SYSTEM_DEFAULTS, SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS } from "./defaults";
 import { SystemInput } from "./input";
 import { hasOwnKey, mergeIfUndefined } from "@latticexyz/store/config/v2";
-import { ErrorMessage, narrow, requiredKeyOf } from "@ark/util";
+import { ErrorMessage, narrow, requiredKeyOf, show } from "@ark/util";
 import { Hex } from "viem";
 import { resourceToHex } from "@latticexyz/common";
 
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ export type resolveSystem<input> = input extends SystemInput
       readonly systemId: Hex;
       readonly openAccess: undefined extends input["openAccess"] ? SYSTEM_DEFAULTS["openAccess"] : input["openAccess"];
       readonly accessList: undefined extends input["accessList"] ? SYSTEM_DEFAULTS["accessList"] : input["accessList"];
+      readonly deploy: show<
+        mergeIfUndefined<undefined extends input["deploy"] ? {} : input["deploy"], SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS>
+      >;
     }
   : never;
 
@@ -68,6 +71,7 @@ export function resolveSystem<input extends SystemInput>(input: input): resolveS
       namespace,
       name,
       systemId,
+      deploy: mergeIfUndefined(input.deploy ?? {}, SYSTEM_DEPLOY_DEFAULTS),
     },
     SYSTEM_DEFAULTS,
   ) as never;
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/world.test.ts b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/world.test.ts
index 971840e36a..90c6a2aefd 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/config/v2/world.test.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/config/v2/world.test.ts
@@ -581,6 +581,7 @@ describe("defineWorld", () => {
         namespace: "app",
         name: "Example",
         systemId: "0x737961707000000000000000000000004578616d706c65000000000000000000",
+        deploy: { disabled: false, registerWorldFunctions: true },
         openAccess: true,
         accessList: [],
       },
@@ -592,6 +593,10 @@ describe("defineWorld", () => {
     readonly systemId: \`0x\${string}\`
     readonly openAccess: true
     readonly accessList: readonly []
+    readonly deploy: {
+      readonly disabled: false
+      readonly registerWorldFunctions: true
+    }
   }
 }`);
   });
diff --git a/packages/world/ts/node/render-solidity/worldgen.ts b/packages/world/ts/node/render-solidity/worldgen.ts
index 76b0ec8944..3305b8b27b 100644
--- a/packages/world/ts/node/render-solidity/worldgen.ts
+++ b/packages/world/ts/node/render-solidity/worldgen.ts
@@ -28,14 +28,17 @@ export async function worldgen({
 
   const outputPath = path.join(outDir, config.codegen.worldInterfaceName + ".sol");
 
-  const systems = (await resolveSystems({ rootDir, config })).map((system) => {
-    const interfaceName = `I${system.label}`;
-    return {
-      ...system,
-      interfaceName,
-      interfacePath: path.join(path.dirname(outputPath), `${interfaceName}.sol`),
-    };
-  });
+  const systems = (await resolveSystems({ rootDir, config }))
+    // TODO: move to codegen option or generate "system manifest" and codegen from that
+    .filter((system) => system.deploy.registerWorldFunctions)
+    .map((system) => {
+      const interfaceName = `I${system.label}`;
+      return {
+        ...system,
+        interfaceName,
+        interfacePath: path.join(path.dirname(outputPath), `${interfaceName}.sol`),
+      };
+    });
 
   const worldImports = systems.map(
     (system): ImportDatum => ({