diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e67301f22..bcdd5fa0c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ var editor = new ContentKit.Editor(element, options);
 * `editor.serialize()` - serialize the current post for persistence. Returns
   Mobiledoc.
 * `editor.destroy()` - teardown the editor event listeners, free memory etc.
+* `editor.disableEditing()` - stop the user from being able to edit the
+  current post with their cursor. Programmatic edits are still allowed.
+* `editor.enableEditing()` - allow the user to make direct edits directly
+  to a post's text.
 
 ### Programmatic Post Editing
 
diff --git a/src/js/editor/editor.js b/src/js/editor/editor.js
index c33550884..d451cf451 100644
--- a/src/js/editor/editor.js
+++ b/src/js/editor/editor.js
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ const defaults = {
   spellcheck: true,
   autofocus: true,
   post: null,
-  serverHost: '',
   // FIXME PhantomJS has 'ontouchstart' in window,
   // causing the stickyToolbar to accidentally be auto-activated
   // in tests
@@ -69,7 +68,9 @@ const defaults = {
   ],
   cards: [],
   cardOptions: {},
-  unknownCardHandler: () => { throw new Error('Unknown card encountered'); },
+  unknownCardHandler: () => {
+    throw new Error('Unknown card encountered');
+  },
   mobiledoc: null
 };
 
@@ -133,6 +134,9 @@ function bindSelectionEvent(editor) {
 }
 
 function bindKeyListeners(editor) {
+  if (!editor.isEditable) {
+    return;
+  }
   editor.addEventListener(document, 'keyup', (event) => {
     const key = Key.fromEvent(event);
     if (key.isEscape()) {
@@ -141,6 +145,9 @@ function bindKeyListeners(editor) {
   });
 
   editor.addEventListener(document, 'keydown', (event) => {
+    if (!editor.isEditable) {
+      return;
+    }
     const key = Key.fromEvent(event);
 
     if (key.isDelete()) {
@@ -235,7 +242,7 @@ class Editor {
     this.applyPlaceholder();
 
     element.spellcheck = this.spellcheck;
-    element.setAttribute('contentEditable', true);
+    this.enableEditing();
 
     if (this.mobiledoc) {
       this.post = new MobiledocParser(this.builder).parse(this.mobiledoc);
@@ -602,6 +609,31 @@ class Editor {
     this.removeAllViews();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Keep the user from directly editing the post. Modification via the
+   * programmatic API is still permitted.
+   *
+   * @method disableEditing
+   * @return undefined
+   * @public
+   */
+  disableEditing() {
+    this.isEditable = false;
+    this.element.setAttribute('contentEditable', false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Allow the user to directly interact with editing a post via a cursor.
+   *
+   * @method enableEditing
+   * @return undefined
+   * @public
+   */
+  enableEditing() {
+    this.isEditable = true;
+    this.element.setAttribute('contentEditable', true);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Run a new post editing session. Yields a block with a new `postEditor`
    * instance. This instance can be used to interact with the post abstract,
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/basic-editor-test.js b/tests/acceptance/basic-editor-test.js
index f061c889a..58e0296b4 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/basic-editor-test.js
+++ b/tests/acceptance/basic-editor-test.js
@@ -29,3 +29,21 @@ test('sets element as contenteditable', (assert) => {
   assert.equal(editorElement.firstChild.tagName, 'P',
                `editor element has a P as its first child`);
 });
+
+test('#disableEditing and #enableEditing toggle contenteditable', (assert) => {
+  let innerHTML = `<p>Hello</p>`;
+  editorElement.innerHTML = innerHTML;
+  editor = new Editor(document.getElementById('editor'));
+
+  assert.equal(editorElement.getAttribute('contenteditable'),
+               'true',
+               'element is contenteditable');
+  editor.disableEditing();
+  assert.equal(editorElement.getAttribute('contenteditable'),
+               'false',
+               'element is not contenteditable');
+  editor.enableEditing();
+  assert.equal(editorElement.getAttribute('contenteditable'),
+               'true',
+               'element is contenteditable');
+});
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/editor-sections-test.js b/tests/acceptance/editor-sections-test.js
index fb55fd116..156d1d283 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/editor-sections-test.js
+++ b/tests/acceptance/editor-sections-test.js
@@ -167,7 +167,22 @@ test('hitting enter at end of a section creates new empty section', (assert) =>
                     offset: 0});
 });
 
-test('deleting across 0 sections merges them', (assert) => {
+// Phantom does not recognize toggling contenteditable off
+Helpers.skipInPhantom('deleting across 2 sections does nothing if editing is disabled', (assert) => {
+  editor = new Editor(editorElement, {mobiledoc: mobileDocWith2Sections});
+  editor.disableEditing();
+  assert.equal($('#editor p').length, 2, 'precond - has 2 sections to start');
+
+  const p0 = $('#editor p:eq(0)')[0],
+        p1 = $('#editor p:eq(1)')[0];
+
+  Helpers.dom.selectText('tion', p0, 'sec', p1);
+  Helpers.dom.triggerDelete(editor);
+
+  assert.equal($('#editor p').length, 2, 'still has 2 sections');
+});
+
+test('deleting across 2 sections merges them', (assert) => {
   editor = new Editor(editorElement, {mobiledoc: mobileDocWith2Sections});
   assert.equal($('#editor p').length, 2, 'precond - has 2 sections to start');