diff --git a/packages/relayer/cli/cli.go b/packages/relayer/cli/cli.go
index 6b026377d2..8720166736 100644
--- a/packages/relayer/cli/cli.go
+++ b/packages/relayer/cli/cli.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var (
 	defaultConfirmations       = 15
 )
 
-func Run(mode relayer.Mode, watchMode relayer.WatchMode, layer relayer.Layer) {
+func Run(mode relayer.Mode, watchMode relayer.WatchMode, layer relayer.Layer, httpOnly relayer.HTTPOnly) {
 	if err := loadAndValidateEnv(); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -86,31 +86,33 @@ func Run(mode relayer.Mode, watchMode relayer.WatchMode, layer relayer.Layer) {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	indexers, closeFunc, err := makeIndexers(layer, db)
-	if err != nil {
-		sqlDB.Close()
-		log.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	defer sqlDB.Close()
-	defer closeFunc()
-
 	forever := make(chan struct{})
 
-	for _, i := range indexers {
-		go func(i *indexer.Service) {
-			if err := i.FilterThenSubscribe(context.Background(), mode, watchMode); err != nil {
-				log.Fatal(err)
-			}
-		}(i)
-	}
-
 	go func() {
 		if err := srv.Start(fmt.Sprintf(":%v", os.Getenv("HTTP_PORT"))); err != nil {
 			log.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	}()
 
+	if !httpOnly {
+		indexers, closeFunc, err := makeIndexers(layer, db)
+		if err != nil {
+			sqlDB.Close()
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		defer sqlDB.Close()
+		defer closeFunc()
+
+		for _, i := range indexers {
+			go func(i *indexer.Service) {
+				if err := i.FilterThenSubscribe(context.Background(), mode, watchMode); err != nil {
+					log.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}(i)
+		}
+	}
+
 	<-forever
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/relayer/cmd/main.go b/packages/relayer/cmd/main.go
index 14784472db..8b5b85dc46 100644
--- a/packages/relayer/cmd/main.go
+++ b/packages/relayer/cmd/main.go
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ func main() {
 	  filter-and-subscribe: catch up on all previous messages, then subscribe to new messages
 	`)
 
+	httpOnlyPtr := flag.Bool("http-only", false, `only run an http server and don't index blocks. 
+	options:
+	  true: only run an http server, dont index blocks
+	  false: run an http server and index blocks
+	`)
+
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	if !relayer.IsInSlice(relayer.Mode(*modePtr), relayer.Modes) {
@@ -40,5 +46,10 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatal("mode not valid")
 	}
 
-	cli.Run(relayer.Mode(*modePtr), relayer.WatchMode(*watchModePtr), relayer.Layer(*layersPtr))
+	cli.Run(
+		relayer.Mode(*modePtr),
+		relayer.WatchMode(*watchModePtr),
+		relayer.Layer(*layersPtr),
+		relayer.HTTPOnly(*httpOnlyPtr),
+	)
 }
diff --git a/packages/relayer/flags.go b/packages/relayer/flags.go
index 9fa09507fd..89378354b6 100644
--- a/packages/relayer/flags.go
+++ b/packages/relayer/flags.go
@@ -25,3 +25,5 @@ var (
 	FilterAndSubscribeWatchMode WatchMode = "filter-and-subscribe"
 	WatchModes                            = []WatchMode{FilterWatchMode, SubscribeWatchMode}
 )
+
+type HTTPOnly bool