diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index cf022b6..1a46fdd 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ export class SlideDeck extends React.Component {
     components: defaultComponents,
     width: '100vw',
     height: '100vh',
+    ignoreKeyEvents: false
   }
 
   state = {
@@ -162,6 +163,10 @@ export class SlideDeck extends React.Component {
   update = fn => this.setState(fn)
 
   handleKeyDown = e => {
+    if (this.props.ignoreKeyEvents) {
+      return
+    }
+
     if (e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey || e.shiftKey || e.altKey) return
     switch (e.key) {
       case 'ArrowRight':
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
index c3ab83e..11f7aed 100644
--- a/test/index.js
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -451,6 +451,19 @@ describe('components', () => {
       expect(root.state.index).toBe(0)
     })
 
+    test('ignoreKeyEvents does not fire handle events when set to true', () => {
+      window.history.pushState(null, null, '/#1')
+      const root = renderIntoDocument(
+        <SlideDeck ignoreKeyEvents={true} slides={[() => false, () => false]} />
+      )
+      const e = new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+        key: 'ArrowLeft'
+      })
+      expect(root.state.index).toBe(1)
+      document.body.dispatchEvent(e)
+      expect(root.state.index).toBe(1)
+    })
+
     test.skip('handles hashchange events', () => {
       window.history.pushState(null, null, '/')
       const root = renderIntoDocument(