diff --git a/app/Kconfig b/app/Kconfig
index 662c7a52ab1..af3ac57270c 100644
--- a/app/Kconfig
+++ b/app/Kconfig
@@ -352,6 +352,15 @@ config ZMK_EXT_POWER
 	bool "Enable support to control external power output"
 	default y
 
+if ZMK_EXT_POWER
+
+config ZMK_EXT_POWER_START
+	bool "Enable external power output by default"
+	default y
+
+#ZMK_EXT_POWER
+endif
+
 #Power Management
 endmenu
 
diff --git a/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_lh_defconfig b/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_lh_defconfig
index f5f0d3ea7bb..2e0c384cfca 100644
--- a/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_lh_defconfig
+++ b/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_lh_defconfig
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW=y
 CONFIG_WS2812_STRIP=y
 CONFIG_SPI=y
 
+# disable EXT_POWER until underglow gets turned on
+CONFIG_ZMK_EXT_POWER_START=n
+
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_EXT_POWER=y
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_ON_START=n
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_BRT_STEP=4
diff --git a/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_rh_defconfig b/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_rh_defconfig
index 3e8f5a92bb8..9e7ba1a4a48 100644
--- a/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_rh_defconfig
+++ b/app/boards/arm/glove80/glove80_rh_defconfig
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW=y
 CONFIG_WS2812_STRIP=y
 CONFIG_SPI=y
 
+# disable EXT_POWER until underglow gets turned on
+CONFIG_ZMK_EXT_POWER_START=n
+
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_EXT_POWER=y
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_ON_START=n
 CONFIG_ZMK_RGB_UNDERGLOW_BRT_STEP=4
diff --git a/app/src/ext_power_generic.c b/app/src/ext_power_generic.c
index aab09cecbbc..20cf29ada8b 100644
--- a/app/src/ext_power_generic.c
+++ b/app/src/ext_power_generic.c
@@ -152,18 +152,26 @@ static int ext_power_generic_init(const struct device *dev) {
 
     k_work_init_delayable(&ext_power_save_work, ext_power_save_state_work);
 
-    // Set default value (on) if settings isn't set
+    // Set default value if settings isn't set
     settings_load_subtree("ext_power");
     if (!data->settings_init) {
 
-        data->status = true;
+        data->status = IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_ZMK_EXT_POWER_START);
         k_work_schedule(&ext_power_save_work, K_NO_WAIT);
 
-        ext_power_enable(dev);
+        if (data->status) {
+            ext_power_enable(dev);
+        } else {
+            ext_power_disable(dev);
+        }
     }
 #else
-    // Default to the ext_power being open when no settings
-    ext_power_enable(dev);
+    // If no settings, set ext_power on/off
+    if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_ZMK_EXT_POWER_START)) {
+        ext_power_enable(dev);
+    } else {
+        ext_power_disable(dev);
+    }
 #endif
 
     if (config->init_delay_ms) {