diff --git a/awx/api/management/commands/uses_mongo.py b/awx/api/management/commands/uses_mongo.py
index fae7a77c34..ab61e7cae4 100644
--- a/awx/api/management/commands/uses_mongo.py
+++ b/awx/api/management/commands/uses_mongo.py
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 
 import sys
 
+from optparse import make_option
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
-
+from awx.main.models import Instance
 from awx.main.task_engine import TaskSerializer
 
 
@@ -15,7 +16,16 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     This script is intended to be used by bash and init scripts to
     conditionally start MongoDB, so its focus is on being bash-friendly.
     """
-    def handle(self, **kwargs):
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(Command, self).__init__()
+        BaseCommand.option_list += (make_option('--local',
+                                                dest='local',
+                                                default=False,
+                                                action="store_true",
+                                                help="Only check if mongo should be running locally"),)
+
+    def handle(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # Get the license data.
         license_reader = TaskSerializer()
         license_data = license_reader.from_file()
@@ -33,10 +43,12 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         # Okay, do we need MongoDB to be turned on?
         # This is a silly variable assignment right now, but I expect the
         # rules here will grow more complicated over time.
-        # FIXME: Most likely this should be False if HA is active
-        #        (not just enabled by license, but actually in use).
         uses_mongo = system_tracking  # noqa
 
+        if Instance.objects.count() > 1 and kwargs['local'] and uses_mongo:
+            print("HA Configuration detected.  Database should be remote")
+            uses_mongo = False
+
         # If we do not need Mongo, return a non-zero exit status.
         if not uses_mongo:
             print('MongoDB NOT required')