diff --git a/ENV_VARIABLES.md b/ENV_VARIABLES.md
index 0eef2eb2b..cbc9f3bee 100644
--- a/ENV_VARIABLES.md
+++ b/ENV_VARIABLES.md
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@
 | SE_NODE_GRACEFUL_SHUTDOWN |  |  |  |
 | SE_VIDEO_CONTAINER_NAME |  |  |  |
 | SE_RECORD_VIDEO | false |  |  |
+| SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED | (derived) | Controls whether `video_ready.py` (the video-readiness HTTP server, `VIDEO_READY_PORT`, default 9000) starts at all. Defaults to `true` whenever `SE_RECORD_VIDEO` or `SE_VIDEO_EVENT_DRIVEN` is `true` - the Node image default (`SE_VIDEO_EVENT_DRIVEN=true`) keeps it running even with `SE_RECORD_VIDEO=false`, so a session can still turn recording on via the `se:recordVideo` capability. Set this directly to `false` to force the server off (e.g. to free the port under `network_mode: host`) regardless of the other two, or `true` to force it on. |  |
+| VIDEO_READY_PORT | 9000 | Port `video_ready.py` listens on for readiness checks |  |
 | SE_ENABLE_BROWSER_LEFTOVERS_CLEANUP | false |  |  |
 | SE_NODE_MAX_SESSIONS | 1 | Set the number of maximum concurrent sessions per browser Node, by default is 1 | --max-sessions |
 | SE_NODE_OVERRIDE_MAX_SESSIONS | false | By default is false, enable this flag for setting max session take effect in browser Node | --override-max-sessions |
diff --git a/Video/entry_point.sh b/Video/entry_point.sh
index 5178e2e47..31af339c0 100755
--- a/Video/entry_point.sh
+++ b/Video/entry_point.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,25 @@ if [ -n "${VIRTUAL_ENV}" ]; then
   python3 --version
 fi
 
+#==============================================
+# video-ready (video_ready.py) binds VIDEO_READY_PORT (default 9000) to serve
+# readiness status. It only needs to run when recording can actually happen:
+# either SE_RECORD_VIDEO is on, or SE_VIDEO_EVENT_DRIVEN lets a session turn
+# it on dynamically via the se:recordVideo capability. In the remaining case
+# (legacy mode, recording off) video_ready.py's own handler would always
+# answer "ready" anyway, so skipping it avoids binding the port for nothing -
+# recorder.conf reads this to gate video-ready's autostart/autorestart.
+# Set it directly to override either default, e.g. force it off under
+# network_mode: host regardless of the two vars above.
+if [ -z "${SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED}" ]; then
+  if [ "$(echo "${SE_RECORD_VIDEO:-true}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')" = "true" ] ||
+    [ "$(echo "${SE_VIDEO_EVENT_DRIVEN:-false}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')" = "true" ]; then
+    export SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED=true
+  else
+    export SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED=false
+  fi
+fi
+
 supervisord --configuration /etc/supervisord.conf &
 
 SUPERVISOR_PID=$!
diff --git a/Video/recorder.conf b/Video/recorder.conf
index d60da9371..199d74d30 100755
--- a/Video/recorder.conf
+++ b/Video/recorder.conf
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ stdout_logfile_maxbytes=0
 priority=0
 command=python3 /opt/bin/video_ready.py
 killasgroup=true
-autostart=true
+autostart=%(ENV_SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED)s
 startsecs=0
-autorestart=true
+autorestart=%(ENV_SE_VIDEO_READY_ENABLED)s
 stopsignal=TERM
 stopwaitsecs=5