diff --git a/src/Site/SiteManager.py b/src/Site/SiteManager.py
index 113275cc..491279f9 100644
--- a/src/Site/SiteManager.py
+++ b/src/Site/SiteManager.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class SiteManager(object):
                     self.sites[address] = site
                     self.log.debug("Loaded site %s in %.3fs" % (address, time.time() - s))
                     added += 1
-                elif startup:
+                elif startup and settings.get("peers", 0) > 0:
                     # No site directory, start download
                     self.log.debug("Found new site in sites.json: %s" % address)
                     gevent.spawn(self.need, address, settings=settings)