diff --git a/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.mm b/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.mm
index c6fbe7092a7..edbbe814e6e 100644
--- a/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.mm
+++ b/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.mm
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ RCT_EXPORT_MODULE()
 
 - (instancetype)initWithHandlersProvider:(NSArray<id<RCTURLRequestHandler>> * (^)(void))getHandlers
 {
-  if (self = [super init]) {
+  if (self = [super initWithDisabledObservation]) {
     _handlersProvider = getHandlers;
   }
   return self;
diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.h b/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.h
index f04d50f0241..f72f53909f4 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.h
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 @property (nonatomic, weak) RCTBridge *bridge;
 
+- (instancetype)initWithDisabledObservation;
+
 /**
  * Override this method to return an array of supported event names. Attempting
  * to observe or send an event that isn't included in this list will result in
diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.m b/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.m
index 6e5a6ff37e7..c3cc596e13c 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.m
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTEventEmitter.m
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 @implementation RCTEventEmitter {
   NSInteger _listenerCount;
+  BOOL _observationDisabled;
 }
 
 @synthesize invokeJS = _invokeJS;
@@ -32,6 +33,13 @@
   }
 }
 
+- (instancetype)initWithDisabledObservation
+{
+  self = [super init];
+  _observationDisabled = YES;
+  return self;
+}
+
 - (NSArray<NSString *> *)supportedEvents
 {
   return nil;
@@ -56,12 +64,15 @@
         [self class],
         [[self supportedEvents] componentsJoinedByString:@"`, `"]);
   }
-  if (_listenerCount > 0 && _bridge) {
+
+  BOOL shouldEmitEvent = (_observationDisabled || _listenerCount > 0);
+
+  if (shouldEmitEvent && _bridge) {
     [_bridge enqueueJSCall:@"RCTDeviceEventEmitter"
                     method:@"emit"
                       args:body ? @[ eventName, body ] : @[ eventName ]
                 completion:NULL];
-  } else if (_listenerCount > 0 && _invokeJS) {
+  } else if (shouldEmitEvent && _invokeJS) {
     _invokeJS(@"RCTDeviceEventEmitter", @"emit", body ? @[ eventName, body ] : @[ eventName ]);
   } else {
     RCTLogWarn(@"Sending `%@` with no listeners registered.", eventName);
@@ -80,6 +91,10 @@
 
 - (void)invalidate
 {
+  if (_observationDisabled) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (_listenerCount > 0) {
     [self stopObserving];
   }
@@ -87,6 +102,10 @@
 
 RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(addListener : (NSString *)eventName)
 {
+  if (_observationDisabled) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (RCT_DEBUG && ![[self supportedEvents] containsObject:eventName]) {
     RCTLogError(
         @"`%@` is not a supported event type for %@. Supported events are: `%@`",
@@ -102,6 +121,10 @@ RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(addListener : (NSString *)eventName)
 
 RCT_EXPORT_METHOD(removeListeners : (double)count)
 {
+  if (_observationDisabled) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   int currentCount = (int)count;
   if (RCT_DEBUG && currentCount > _listenerCount) {
     RCTLogError(@"Attempted to remove more %@ listeners than added", [self class]);