diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
index 8c598225f..1a5ccef7c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/Config.java
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ package eu.siacs.conversations;
 
 import android.graphics.Bitmap;
 
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.List;
+
 import eu.siacs.conversations.xmpp.chatstate.ChatState;
 import rocks.xmpp.addr.Jid;
 
@@ -145,6 +149,15 @@ public final class Config {
 		"_MD5",
 	};
 
+	public static class OMEMO_EXCEPTIONS {
+		//if the own account matches one of the following domains OMEMO won’t be turned on automatically
+		public static final List<String> ACCOUNT_DOMAINS = Collections.singletonList("s.ms");
+
+		//if the contacts domain matches one of the following domains OMEMO won’t be turned on automatically
+		//can be used for well known, widely used gateways
+		public static final List<String> CONTACT_DOMAINS = Collections.singletonList("cheogram.com");
+	}
+
 	private Config() {
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/entities/Conversation.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/entities/Conversation.java
index 6e91fc332..33f6ebab7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/entities/Conversation.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/entities/Conversation.java
@@ -596,10 +596,9 @@ public class Conversation extends AbstractEntity implements Blockable, Comparabl
 		if (!Config.supportOmemo() && !Config.supportOpenPgp()) {
 			return Message.ENCRYPTION_NONE;
 		}
-		AxolotlService axolotlService = account.getAxolotlService();
 		if (contactJid.asBareJid().equals(Config.BUG_REPORTS)) {
 			defaultEncryption = Message.ENCRYPTION_NONE;
-		} else if (axolotlService != null && axolotlService.isConversationAxolotlCapable(this)) {
+		} else if (suitableForOmemoByDefault(this)) {
 			defaultEncryption = Message.ENCRYPTION_AXOLOTL;
 		} else {
 			defaultEncryption = Message.ENCRYPTION_NONE;
@@ -612,6 +611,16 @@ public class Conversation extends AbstractEntity implements Blockable, Comparabl
 		}
 	}
 
+	private static boolean suitableForOmemoByDefault(final Conversation conversation) {
+		final String contact = conversation.getJid().getDomain();
+		final String account = conversation.getAccount().getServer();
+		if (Config.OMEMO_EXCEPTIONS.CONTACT_DOMAINS.contains(contact) || Config.OMEMO_EXCEPTIONS.ACCOUNT_DOMAINS.contains(account)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		final AxolotlService axolotlService = conversation.getAccount().getAxolotlService();
+		return axolotlService != null && axolotlService.isConversationAxolotlCapable(conversation);
+	}
+
 	public void setNextEncryption(int encryption) {
 		this.setAttribute(ATTRIBUTE_NEXT_ENCRYPTION, String.valueOf(encryption));
 	}