diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index 64012d1f53..741d624ed7 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ MITX_FEATURES = {
 
     'ENABLE_PSYCHOMETRICS': False,  	# real-time psychometrics (eg item response theory analysis in instructor dashboard)
 
+    'ENABLE_DJANGO_ADMIN_SITE': False,  # set true to enable django's admin site, even on prod (e.g. for course ops)
     'ENABLE_SQL_TRACKING_LOGS': False,
     'ENABLE_LMS_MIGRATION': False,
     'ENABLE_MANUAL_GIT_RELOAD': False,
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 3b14b41bd7..d1bee076fc 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from . import one_time_startup
 import django.contrib.auth.views
 
 # Uncomment the next two lines to enable the admin:
-if settings.DEBUG:
+if settings.DEBUG or settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_DJANGO_ADMIN_SITE'):
     admin.autodiscover()
 
 urlpatterns = ('',  # nopep8
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ if settings.COURSEWARE_ENABLED:
 if settings.ENABLE_JASMINE:
     urlpatterns += (url(r'^_jasmine/', include('django_jasmine.urls')),)
 
-if settings.DEBUG:
+if settings.DEBUG or settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_DJANGO_ADMIN_SITE'):
     ## Jasmine and admin
     urlpatterns += (url(r'^admin/', include(admin.site.urls)),)