diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ec5e0c1..5718b6e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## master (unreleased)
 
+### New features
+
+* [#187](https://github.com/clojure-emacs/inf-clojure/pull/197): Defcustom `inf-clojure-enable-eldoc` to disable eldoc interaction.
+
 ## 3.1.0 (2021-07-23)
 
 ### New features
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dc314a8..edf3b74 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -356,18 +356,20 @@ startup when using the `inf-clojure` command or is specified manually when using
 
 #### ElDoc
 
-**Note:** You can skip this section if you're using Emacs 26.1+, as `eldoc-mode`
-is enabled by default there.
-
 `eldoc-mode` is supported in Clojure source buffers and `*inferior-clojure*`
 buffers which are running a Clojure REPL.
 
-When ElDoc is enabled and there is an active REPL, it will show the
-argument list of the function call you are currently editing in the
-echo area.
+When ElDoc is enabled and there is an active REPL, it will show the argument
+list of the function call you are currently editing in the echo area. It
+accomplishes this by evaluating forms to get the metadata for the vars under
+your cursor. One side effect of this is that it can mess with repl vars like
+`*1` and `*2`. You can disable inf-clojure's Eldoc functionality with `(setq
+inf-clojure-enable-eldoc nil)`.
+
 
-You can activate ElDoc with `M-x eldoc-mode` or by adding the
-following to you Emacs config:
+ElDoc should be enabled by default in Emacs 26.1+. If it is not active by
+default, you can activate ElDoc with `M-x eldoc-mode` or by adding the following
+to you Emacs config:
 
 ```emacs-lisp
 (add-hook 'clojure-mode-hook #'eldoc-mode)
diff --git a/inf-clojure.el b/inf-clojure.el
index bbcb0c1..3996c4b 100644
--- a/inf-clojure.el
+++ b/inf-clojure.el
@@ -384,6 +384,13 @@ mode line entirely."
   :type 'sexp
   :risky t)
 
+(defcustom inf-clojure-enable-eldoc t
+  "Var that allows disabling `eldoc-mode` in `inf-clojure`.
+
+Set to `nil` to disable eldoc.  Eldoc can be quite useful by
+displaying function signatures in the modeline, but can also
+cause multiple prompts to appear and mess with `*1`, `*2`, etc.")
+
 ;;;###autoload
 (define-minor-mode inf-clojure-minor-mode
   "Minor mode for interacting with the inferior Clojure process buffer.
@@ -394,7 +401,8 @@ The following commands are available:
   :lighter inf-clojure-mode-line
   :keymap inf-clojure-minor-mode-map
   (setq-local comint-input-sender 'inf-clojure--send-string)
-  (inf-clojure-eldoc-setup)
+  (when inf-clojure-enable-eldoc
+    (inf-clojure-eldoc-setup))
   (make-local-variable 'completion-at-point-functions)
   (add-to-list 'completion-at-point-functions
                #'inf-clojure-completion-at-point))
@@ -631,7 +639,8 @@ to continue it."
   (setq mode-line-process '(":%s"))
   (clojure-mode-variables)
   (clojure-font-lock-setup)
-  (inf-clojure-eldoc-setup)
+  (when inf-clojure-enable-eldoc
+    (inf-clojure-eldoc-setup))
   (setq comint-get-old-input #'inf-clojure-get-old-input)
   (setq comint-input-filter #'inf-clojure-input-filter)
   (setq-local comint-prompt-read-only inf-clojure-prompt-read-only)
@@ -1407,6 +1416,7 @@ Return the number of nested sexp the point was over or after."
   "Backend function for eldoc to show argument list in the echo area."
   ;; todo: this never gets unset once connected and is a lie
   (when (and (inf-clojure-connected-p)
+             inf-clojure-enable-eldoc
              ;; don't clobber an error message in the minibuffer
              (not (member last-command '(next-error previous-error))))
     (let* ((info (inf-clojure-eldoc-info-in-current-sexp))