diff --git a/lib/tasks/gather.js b/lib/tasks/gather.js
index 02cdecdd..9fc6b529 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/gather.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/gather.js
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ class TaskGather extends Task {
       if (this.asrTimeout > 0) this.asrDtmfTerminationDigit = recognizer.asrDtmfTerminationDigit;
       this.isContinuousAsr = this.asrTimeout > 0;
 
-      if (Array.isArray(this.data.recognizer.hints) && 0 == this.data.recognizer.hints.length) {
+      if (Array.isArray(this.data.recognizer.hints) &&
+        0 == this.data.recognizer.hints.length && process.env.JAMBONES_GATHER_CLEAR_GLOBAL_HINTS_ON_EMPTY_HINTS) {
         logger.debug('Gather: an empty hints array was supplied, so we will mask global hints');
         this.maskGlobalSttHints = true;
       }