diff --git a/src/dev.rs b/src/dev.rs
index feca99e5..1430f11e 100644
--- a/src/dev.rs
+++ b/src/dev.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 use clap::Subcommand;
 
+use crate::DEVELOPING_OFFICIAL_RUSTLINGS;
+
 mod check;
 mod init;
 mod update;
@@ -15,7 +17,13 @@ pub enum DevCommands {
 impl DevCommands {
     pub fn run(self) -> Result<()> {
         match self {
-            DevCommands::Init => init::init().context(INIT_ERR),
+            DevCommands::Init => {
+                if DEVELOPING_OFFICIAL_RUSTLINGS {
+                    bail!("Disabled while developing the official Rustlings");
+                }
+
+                init::init().context(INIT_ERR)
+            }
             DevCommands::Check => check::check(),
             DevCommands::Update => update::update(),
         }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 3f3fbc1d..d40f978c 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     match args.command {
         Some(Subcommands::Init) => {
+            if DEVELOPING_OFFICIAL_RUSTLINGS {
+                bail!("Disabled while developing the official Rustlings");
+            }
+
             return init::init().context("Initialization failed");
         }
         Some(Subcommands::Dev(dev_command)) => return dev_command.run(),