diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 4a99453..3777524 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ services:
             - JICOFO_CONF_SINGLE_PARTICIPANT_TIMEOUT
             - JICOFO_ENABLE_HEALTH_CHECKS
             - JICOFO_ENABLE_REST
+            - JICOFO_HEALTH_CHECKS_USE_PRESENCE
             - JICOFO_OCTO_REGION
             - JIBRI_BREWERY_MUC
             - JIBRI_REQUEST_RETRIES
diff --git a/jicofo/rootfs/defaults/jicofo.conf b/jicofo/rootfs/defaults/jicofo.conf
index 04269eb..8ca6c86 100644
--- a/jicofo/rootfs/defaults/jicofo.conf
+++ b/jicofo/rootfs/defaults/jicofo.conf
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 {{ $ENABLE_AUTO_LOGIN := .Env.ENABLE_AUTO_LOGIN | default "1" | toBool }}
 {{ $ENABLE_REST := .Env.JICOFO_ENABLE_REST | default "0" | toBool }}
 {{ $ENABLE_JVB_XMPP_SERVER := Env.ENABLE_JVB_XMPP_SERVER | default "0" | toBool }}
+{{ $HEALTH_CHECKS_USE_PRESENCE := .Env.JICOFO_HEALTH_CHECKS_USE_PRESENCE | default "0" | toBool }}
 {{ $JIBRI_BREWERY_MUC := .Env.JIBRI_BREWERY_MUC | default "jibribrewery" -}}
 {{ $JIGASI_BREWERY_MUC := .Env.JIGASI_BREWERY_MUC | default "jigasibrewery" -}}
 {{ $JVB_BREWERY_MUC := .Env.JVB_BREWERY_MUC | default "jvbbrewery" -}}
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ jicofo {
       {{ if .Env.JICOFO_ENABLE_BRIDGE_HEALTH_CHECKS }}
       health-checks {
         enabled = {{ .Env.JICOFO_ENABLE_BRIDGE_HEALTH_CHECKS | toBool }}
+        use-presence = {{ $HEALTH_CHECKS_USE_PRESENCE }}
       }
       {{ end }}