diff --git a/group_vars/matrix-servers b/group_vars/matrix-servers
index 7d4becce..30e55131 100644
--- a/group_vars/matrix-servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix-servers
@@ -9,6 +9,16 @@
 # You can also override ANY variable (seen here or in any given role),
 # by re-defining it in your own configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>`).
 
+######################################################################
+#
+# matrix-appservice-irc
+#
+######################################################################
+
+# Normally, matrix-nginx-proxy is enabled and nginx can reach matrix-appservice-irc over the container network.
+# If matrix-nginx-proxy is not enabled, or you otherwise have a need for it, you can expose
+# matrix-appservice-irc's client-server port to the local host (`127.0.0.1:9999`).
+matrix_appservice_irc_container_expose_client_server_api_port: "{{ not matrix_nginx_proxy_enabled }}"
 
 ######################################################################
 #
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index 33e19162..5b8b6fc8 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ matrix_synapse_ext_path: "{{ matrix_synapse_base_path }}/ext"
 # Controls whether the Synapse container exposes the Client/Server API port (tcp/8008).
 matrix_synapse_container_expose_client_server_api_port: false
 
+# Controls whether the Appservice IRC container exposes the Client/Server API port (tcp/9999).
+matrix_appservice_irc_container_expose_client_server_api_port: false
+
 # List of systemd services that matrix-synapse.service depends on
 matrix_synapse_systemd_required_services_list: ['docker.service']
 
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/ext/appservice-irc/systemd/matrix-appservice-irc.service.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/ext/appservice-irc/systemd/matrix-appservice-irc.service.j2
index 194a791d..2353796b 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/ext/appservice-irc/systemd/matrix-appservice-irc.service.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/ext/appservice-irc/systemd/matrix-appservice-irc.service.j2
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker run --rm --name matrix-appservice-irc \
 			--log-driver=none \
 			-e "UID={{ matrix_user_uid }}" -e "GID={{ matrix_user_gid }}" \
 			--network={{ matrix_docker_network }} \
+			{% if matrix_appservice_irc_container_expose_client_server_api_port %}
 			-p 127.0.0.1:9999:9999 \
+			{% endif %}
 			-v {{ matrix_appservice_irc_base_path }}:/data:z \
 			{{ matrix_appservice_irc_docker_image }} \
 			-c /data/config.yaml -f /data/registration.yaml -p 9999