diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/keypool.py b/qa/rpc-tests/keypool.py
index 1f8979692..38d6874dc 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/keypool.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/keypool.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def main():
             os.makedirs(options.tmpdir)
         initialize_chain(options.tmpdir)
 
-        nodes = start_nodes(1, options.tmpdir, extra_args=[['-developerencryptwallet']])
+        nodes = start_nodes(1, options.tmpdir, extra_args=[['-experimentalfeatures', '-developerencryptwallet']])
 
         run_test(nodes, options.tmpdir)
 
diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/wallet_nullifiers.py b/qa/rpc-tests/wallet_nullifiers.py
index ce18f8d51..93f5a499d 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/wallet_nullifiers.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/wallet_nullifiers.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class WalletNullifiersTest (BitcoinTestFramework):
 
     def setup_nodes(self):
         return start_nodes(4, self.options.tmpdir,
-                           extra_args=[['-developerencryptwallet']] * 4)
+                           extra_args=[['-experimentalfeatures', '-developerencryptwallet']] * 4)
 
     def run_test (self):
         # add zaddr to node 0
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 0df20e242..85ee47921 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ std::string HelpMessage(HelpMessageMode mode)
         debugCategories += ", qt";
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-debug=<category>", strprintf(_("Output debugging information (default: %u, supplying <category> is optional)"), 0) + ". " +
         _("If <category> is not supplied or if <category> = 1, output all debugging information.") + " " + _("<category> can be:") + " " + debugCategories + ".");
+    strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-experimentalfeatures", _("Enable use of experimental features"));
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-help-debug", _("Show all debugging options (usage: --help -help-debug)"));
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-logips", strprintf(_("Include IP addresses in debug output (default: %u)"), 0));
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-logtimestamps", strprintf(_("Prepend debug output with timestamp (default: %u)"), 1));
@@ -750,6 +751,16 @@ bool AppInit2(boost::thread_group& threadGroup, CScheduler& scheduler)
     // ********************************************************* Step 2: parameter interactions
     const CChainParams& chainparams = Params();
 
+    // Set this early so that experimental features are correctly enabled/disabled
+    fExperimentalMode = GetBoolArg("-experimentalfeatures", false);
+
+    // Fail early if user has set experimental options without the global flag
+    if (!fExperimentalMode) {
+        if (mapArgs.count("-developerencryptwallet")) {
+            return InitError(_("Wallet encryption requires -experimentalfeatures."));
+        }
+    }
+
     // Set this early so that parameter interactions go to console
     fPrintToConsole = GetBoolArg("-printtoconsole", false);
     fLogTimestamps = GetBoolArg("-logtimestamps", true);
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 74344696d..207c0d458 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ int64_t nTimeBestReceived = 0;
 CWaitableCriticalSection csBestBlock;
 CConditionVariable cvBlockChange;
 int nScriptCheckThreads = 0;
+bool fExperimentalMode = false;
 bool fImporting = false;
 bool fReindex = false;
 bool fTxIndex = false;
diff --git a/src/main.h b/src/main.h
index fd99d28e5..bc6af6484 100644
--- a/src/main.h
+++ b/src/main.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ extern uint64_t nLastBlockSize;
 extern const std::string strMessageMagic;
 extern CWaitableCriticalSection csBestBlock;
 extern CConditionVariable cvBlockChange;
+extern bool fExperimentalMode;
 extern bool fImporting;
 extern bool fReindex;
 extern int nScriptCheckThreads;
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
index 060b0dd94..b3ec08463 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
@@ -2002,7 +2002,7 @@ Value encryptwallet(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
     if (!EnsureWalletIsAvailable(fHelp))
         return Value::null;
 
-    auto fEnableWalletEncryption = GetBoolArg("-developerencryptwallet", false);
+    auto fEnableWalletEncryption = fExperimentalMode && GetBoolArg("-developerencryptwallet", false);
 
     std::string strWalletEncryptionDisabledMsg = "";
     if (!fEnableWalletEncryption) {