diff --git a/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/lib/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative.rb b/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/lib/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative.rb
index 5842410ad76..35f83fc67d9 100644
--- a/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/lib/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative.rb
+++ b/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/lib/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ module DiscourseNarrativeBot
     }
 
     def self.can_start?(user)
-      return true if user.staff?
+      return true if user.staff? || !SiteSetting.enable_badges
       user.badges.where(name: DiscourseNarrativeBot::NewUserNarrative::BADGE_NAME).exists?
     end
 
diff --git a/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/spec/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative_spec.rb b/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/spec/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative_spec.rb
index 2afb149bb00..63f2a031e4c 100644
--- a/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/spec/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative_spec.rb
+++ b/plugins/discourse-narrative-bot/spec/discourse_narrative_bot/advanced_user_narrative_spec.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ RSpec.describe DiscourseNarrativeBot::AdvancedUserNarrative do
         expect(described_class.can_start?(user)).to eq(true)
       end
     end
+
+    describe 'when badges are disabled' do
+      it 'should return true' do
+        SiteSetting.enable_badges = false
+        expect(described_class.can_start?(user)).to eq(true)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe '#notify_timeout' do