diff --git a/app/models/runner.rb b/app/models/runner.rb
index 4931db8e..21af9d96 100644
--- a/app/models/runner.rb
+++ b/app/models/runner.rb
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ class Runner < ApplicationRecord
   attr_accessor :strategy
 
   def self.strategy_class
-    @strategy_class ||= begin
-      strategy_name = CodeOcean::Config.new(:code_ocean).read[:runner_management][:strategy]
-      "runner/strategy/#{strategy_name}".camelize.constantize
-    end
+    @strategy_class ||= if Runner.management_active?
+                          strategy_name = CodeOcean::Config.new(:code_ocean).read[:runner_management][:strategy]
+                          "runner/strategy/#{strategy_name}".camelize.constantize
+                        else
+                          Runner::Strategy::Null
+                        end
   end
 
   def self.management_active?
diff --git a/lib/runner/strategy/null.rb b/lib/runner/strategy/null.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38ff522f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/runner/strategy/null.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# This strategy allows normal operation of CodeOcean even when the runner management is disabled.
+# However, as no command can be executed, all execution requests will fail.
+class Runner::Strategy::Null < Runner::Strategy
+  def self.initialize_environment; end
+
+  def self.sync_environment(_environment); end
+
+  def self.request_from_management(_environment)
+    SecureRandom.uuid
+  end
+
+  def destroy_at_management; end
+
+  def copy_files(_files); end
+
+  def attach_to_execution(command, event_loop)
+    socket = Connection.new(nil, self, event_loop)
+    # We don't want to return an error if the execution environment is changed
+    socket.status = :terminated_by_codeocean if command == ExecutionEnvironment::VALIDATION_COMMAND
+    yield(socket)
+    socket
+  end
+
+  def self.available_images
+    []
+  end
+
+  def self.config; end
+
+  def self.release
+    'N/A'
+  end
+
+  def self.pool_size
+    {}
+  end
+
+  def self.websocket_header
+    {}
+  end
+
+  class Connection < Runner::Connection
+    def decode(event_data)
+      event_data
+    end
+
+    def encode(data)
+      data
+    end
+
+    def active?
+      false
+    end
+  end
+end