diff --git a/yasnd.c b/yasnd.c
index e1f7378..ea07539 100644
--- a/yasnd.c
+++ b/yasnd.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ cfg_t *cfg; // pointer to configuration structure
 host_decl* hosts=NULL; // structure with hosts' definitions
 int hosts_count=0; // count of hosts
 int debug_flag=0;
+bool sms_send_enable=false; // send or not send alerts via SMS
 char* recipient_number=NULL; // recipient of sms alerts
 
 void log_debug(const char *message,int verbosity)
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ void init()
 	cfg_opt_t opts[] = {
 		CFG_STR_LIST("hosts", "{}", CFGF_NONE),
 		CFG_SIMPLE_INT("debug", &debug_flag),
+		CFG_SIMPLE_BOOL("sms_send_enable", &sms_send_enable),
 		CFG_SIMPLE_STR("sms_recipient", &recipient_number),
 		CFG_END()
 	};
@@ -55,6 +57,15 @@ void init()
 		log_event("Error parsing config file");
 		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
+	// if SMS sending is enabled, recipient address must also be defined
+	if (sms_send_enable)
+	{
+		if (recipient_number==NULL)
+		{
+			log_event("Error: no recipient for sms alerts defined in config file");
+			exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+		}
+	}
 	// hosts' array must not be empty
 	hosts_count=cfg_size(cfg,"hosts");
 	if (hosts_count==0)
@@ -130,7 +141,8 @@ void loop_function()
 			sprintf(log_message,"Host %s does not answer, sending sms",hosts[i].hostname);
 			log_debug(log_message,DEBUG_BASE);
 			sprintf(sms_message,"Host %s does not answer",hosts[i].hostname);
-			gammu_send_sms(sms_message);
+			if (sms_send_enable)
+				gammu_send_sms(sms_message);
 		}
 	}
 }