diff --git a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
index f53c2917a..211c18634 100644
--- a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ namespace llarp
     tooling::RouterHive* hive = nullptr;
 #endif
 
+    // XXX / TODO: this code shouldn't ever make it into a release binary
+    virtual void
+    stopGossipingRC() = 0;
+
     virtual ~AbstractRouter() = default;
 
     virtual bool
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index e92be092e..9a8034a9e 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ namespace llarp
   void
   Router::GossipRCIfNeeded(const RouterContact rc)
   {
+    if (not m_shouldGossipRC)
+      return;
+
     /// if we are not a service node forget about gossip
     if (not IsServiceNode())
       return;
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.hpp b/llarp/router/router.hpp
index 1be5a99c7..db393c073 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ namespace llarp
 {
   struct Router final : public AbstractRouter
   {
+    // XXX / TODO: this code shouldn't ever make it into a release binary
+    virtual void
+    stopGossipingRC()
+    {
+      m_shouldGossipRC = false;
+    }
+    bool m_shouldGossipRC = true;
+
     llarp_time_t _lastPump = 0s;
     bool ready;
     // transient iwp encryption key
diff --git a/pybind/llarp/router.cpp b/pybind/llarp/router.cpp
index 7531c27c5..8dcedc6a4 100644
--- a/pybind/llarp/router.cpp
+++ b/pybind/llarp/router.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ namespace llarp
     py::class_<AbstractRouter>(mod, "AbstractRouter")
         .def("rc", &AbstractRouter::rc)
         .def("Stop", &AbstractRouter::Stop)
-        .def("peerDb", &AbstractRouter::peerDb);
+        .def("peerDb", &AbstractRouter::peerDb)
+        .def("stopGossipingRC", &AbstractRouter::stopGossipingRC);
   }
 }  // namespace llarp
diff --git a/test/hive/test_peer_stats.py b/test/hive/test_peer_stats.py
index fd47b656f..4d0530ed0 100644
--- a/test/hive/test_peer_stats.py
+++ b/test/hive/test_peer_stats.py
@@ -6,50 +6,72 @@ def test_peer_stats(HiveForPeerStats):
   numRelays = 12
 
   hive = HiveForPeerStats(n_relays=numRelays, n_clients=0, netid="hive")
+  someRouterId = None
 
-  start_time = time()
-  cur_time = start_time
-  test_duration = 30 #seconds
+  def collectStatsForAWhile(duration):
+    print("collecting router hive stats for {} seconds...", duration)
 
-  # we track the number of attempted sessions and inbound/outbound established sessions
-  numInbound = 0
-  numOutbound = 0
-  numAttempts = 0
+    start_time = time()
+    cur_time = start_time
 
-  # we pick an arbitrary router out of our routers
-  someRouterId = None
+    # we track the number of attempted sessions and inbound/outbound established sessions
+    numInbound = 0
+    numOutbound = 0
+    numAttempts = 0
+
+    nonlocal someRouterId
+
+    while cur_time < start_time + duration:
+      hive.CollectAllEvents()
+
+      for event in hive.events:
+        event_name = event.__class__.__name__
+
+        if event_name == "LinkSessionEstablishedEvent":
+          if event.inbound:
+            numInbound += 1
+          else:
+            numOutbound += 1
+
+        if event_name == "ConnectionAttemptEvent":
+          numAttempts += 1
 
-  while cur_time < start_time + test_duration:
+          # we pick an arbitrary router out of our routers
+          if someRouterId is None:
+            someRouterId = event.remoteId;
 
-    hive.CollectAllEvents()
+      hive.events = []
+      cur_time = time()
 
-    for event in hive.events:
-      event_name = event.__class__.__name__
+    # these should be strictly equal, although there is variation because of
+    # the time we sample
+    print("test duration exceeded")
+    print("in: {} out: {} attempts: {}", numInbound, numOutbound, numAttempts);
+    totalReceived = tally_rc_received_for_peer(hive.hive, someRouterId)
 
-      if event_name == "LinkSessionEstablishedEvent":
-        if event.inbound:
-          numInbound += 1
-        else:
-          numOutbound += 1
+    # every router should have received this relay's RC exactly once
+    print("total times RC received: {} numRelays: {}", totalReceived, numRelays)
 
-      if event_name == "ConnectionAttemptEvent":
-        numAttempts += 1
+    return {
+      "numInbound": numInbound,
+      "numOutbound": numOutbound,
+      "numAttempts": numAttempts,
+      "totalTargetRCsReceived": totalReceived,
+    };
 
-        if someRouterId is None:
-          someRouterId = event.remoteId;
+  results1 = collectStatsForAWhile(30);
+  assert(results1["totalTargetRCsReceived"] == numRelays)
 
-    hive.events = []
-    cur_time = time()
+  # stop our router from gossiping
+  router = hive.hive.GetRelay(someRouterId, True)
+  router.stopGossipingRC();
 
-  # these should be strictly equal, although there is variation because of
-  # the time we sample
-  print("test duration exceeded")
-  print("in: {} out: {} attempts: {}", numInbound, numOutbound, numAttempts);
-  totalReceived = tally_rc_received_for_peer(hive.hive, someRouterId)
+  ignore = collectStatsForAWhile(30);
 
-  # every router should have received this relay's RC exactly once
-  print("total times RC received: {} numRelays: {}", totalReceived, numRelays)
-  assert(totalReceived == numRelays)
+  # ensure that no one hears a fresh RC from this router again
+  print("Starting second (longer) stats collection...")
+  results2 = collectStatsForAWhile(3600);
+  assert(results2["totalTargetRCsReceived"] == numRelays) # should not have increased
 
 def tally_rc_received_for_peer(hive, routerId):