diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
index 7f270fb..6c3adf5 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/conf.py
@@ -608,6 +608,20 @@ class WuttaConfig:
         """
         return load_object(self.default_engine_maker_spec)
 
+    def production(self):
+        """
+        Returns boolean indicating whether the app is running in
+        production mode.
+
+        This value may be set e.g. in config file:
+
+        .. code-block:: ini
+
+           [wutta]
+           production = true
+        """
+        return self.get_bool(f'{self.appname}.production', default=False)
+
 
 class WuttaConfigExtension:
     """
diff --git a/tests/test_conf.py b/tests/test_conf.py
index 791da49..fb9e730 100644
--- a/tests/test_conf.py
+++ b/tests/test_conf.py
@@ -442,6 +442,16 @@ configure_logging = true
         make_engine = config.get_engine_maker()
         self.assertIs(make_engine, custom_make_engine_from_config)
 
+    def test_production(self):
+        config = conf.WuttaConfig()
+
+        # false if not defined
+        self.assertFalse(config.production())
+
+        # but config may specify
+        config.setdefault('wutta.production', 'true')
+        self.assertTrue(config.production())
+
 
 class CustomAppHandler(AppHandler):
     pass