diff --git a/debian/ngcp-panel.preinst b/debian/ngcp-panel.preinst
index bd75cf828c..ed5c80dd6d 100644
--- a/debian/ngcp-panel.preinst
+++ b/debian/ngcp-panel.preinst
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ set -e
 
 case "$1" in
     install|upgrade)
+    if [ -f /etc/default/ngcp-panel ]; then
+        sed -e 's/RUN_DAEMON=yes/RUN_DAEMON=no/' \
+            -i /etc/default/ngcp-panel
+        echo "ngcp-panel disabled. Run ngcpcfg apply to enable."
+    fi
     # fix tmp perms
     if [ -d /tmp/ngcp ]; then
         echo "fixing /tmp/ngcp dir perms"