diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0960308..52071f6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ with fuzzy searching, you just need to [install
 
 ![kubectx interactive search with fzf](img/kubectx-interactive.gif)
 
+If you have `fzf` installed, but want to opt out of using this feature, set the environment variable `KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF=1`.
+
+
 -----
 
 ### Customizing colors
diff --git a/kubectx b/kubectx
index 5930efd..9d753c9 100755
--- a/kubectx
+++ b/kubectx
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ delete_context() {
 
 main() {
   if [[ "$#" -eq 0 ]]; then
-    if [[ -t 1 && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    if [[ -t 1 &&  -z "${KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF:-}" && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
       choose_context_interactive
     else
       list_contexts
diff --git a/kubens b/kubens
index 3943773..793423d 100755
--- a/kubens
+++ b/kubens
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ swap_namespace() {
 
 main() {
   if [[ "$#" -eq 0 ]]; then
-    if [[ -t 1 && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    if [[ -t 1 && -z ${KUBECTX_IGNORE_FZF:-} && "$(type fzf &>/dev/null; echo $?)" -eq 0 ]]; then
       choose_namespace_interactive
     else
       list_namespaces