diff --git a/cashu/core/settings.py b/cashu/core/settings.py
index eb81d1a6..c49fd52a 100644
--- a/cashu/core/settings.py
+++ b/cashu/core/settings.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class MintSettings(CashuSettings):
     mint_max_secret_length: int = Field(default=512)
 
     mint_input_fee_ppk: int = Field(default=0)
+    mint_disable_melt_on_error: bool = Field(default=False)
 
 
 class MintDeprecationFlags(MintSettings):
diff --git a/cashu/mint/ledger.py b/cashu/mint/ledger.py
index 8dae66c7..9161092b 100644
--- a/cashu/mint/ledger.py
+++ b/cashu/mint/ledger.py
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ async def melt(
             Tuple[str, List[BlindedMessage]]: Proof of payment and signed outputs for returning overpaid fees to wallet.
         """
         # make sure we're allowed to melt
-        if self.disable_melt:
+        if self.disable_melt and settings.mint_disable_melt_on_error:
             raise NotAllowedError("Melt is disabled. Please contact the operator.")
 
         # get melt quote and check if it was already paid
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ async def melt(
                     except Exception as e:
                         # Something went wrong. We might have lost connection to the backend. Keep transaction pending and return.
                         logger.error(
-                            f"Lightning backend error: could not check payment status. Proofs for melt quote {melt_quote.quote} are stuck as PENDING. Disabling melt. Fix your Lightning backend and restart the mint.\nError: {e}"
+                            f"Lightning backend error: could not check payment status. Proofs for melt quote {melt_quote.quote} are stuck as PENDING.\nError: {e}"
                         )
                         self.disable_melt = True
                         return PostMeltQuoteResponse.from_melt_quote(melt_quote)
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ async def melt(
                         case _:
                             # Something went wrong with our implementation or the backend. Status check returned different result than payment. Keep transaction pending and return.
                             logger.error(
-                                f"Payment state is {status.result.name} and payment was {payment.result}. Proofs for melt quote {melt_quote.quote} are stuck as PENDING. Disabling melt. Fix your Lightning backend and restart the mint."
+                                f"Payment state was {payment.result} but additional payment state check returned {status.result.name}. Proofs for melt quote {melt_quote.quote} are stuck as PENDING."
                             )
                             self.disable_melt = True
                             return PostMeltQuoteResponse.from_melt_quote(melt_quote)
diff --git a/tests/test_mint_melt.py b/tests/test_mint_melt.py
index f4460599..562062e6 100644
--- a/tests/test_mint_melt.py
+++ b/tests/test_mint_melt.py
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ async def test_melt_lightning_pay_invoice_exception_exception(
     ledger: Ledger, wallet: Wallet
 ):
     """Simulates the case where pay_invoice and get_payment_status raise an exception (due to network issues for example)."""
+    settings.mint_disable_melt_on_error = True
     mint_quote = await wallet.request_mint(64)
     await ledger.get_mint_quote(mint_quote.quote)  # fakewallet: set the quote to paid
     await wallet.mint(64, quote_id=mint_quote.quote)