diff --git a/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/localtoc.html b/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/localtoc.html
index 5eb9b893..aaaeae46 100644
--- a/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/localtoc.html
+++ b/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/localtoc.html
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-{%- if theme_sidebar_mode == 'toctree' %}
-{%- if display_toc %}
+{%- if theme_sidebar_mode == 'toctree' and theme_display_toc %}
 <h5><a href="{{ pathto(master_doc) }}">Contents</a></h5>
 {{ toc }}
 {%- endif %}
-{%- endif %}
diff --git a/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/theme.conf b/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/theme.conf
index 85854ffc..42730f59 100644
--- a/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/theme.conf
+++ b/openstackdocstheme/theme/openstackdocs/theme.conf
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ pygments_style = native
 [options]
 analytics_tracking_code = UA-17511903-1
 sidebar_mode = toctree
+display_toc = True
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/allow-disabling-toc-in-body-d98d3a6e633fa28e.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/allow-disabling-toc-in-body-d98d3a6e633fa28e.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5eba8b25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/allow-disabling-toc-in-body-d98d3a6e633fa28e.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    The automatic table of contents that appears in the body of the
+    documentation can be disabled by setting ``display_toc`` to ``False`` in
+    the ``html_theme_options`` option in ``conf.py``.
+
+    For example:
+
+    .. code-block:: python
+
+      html_theme_options = {
+           "display_toc": False,
+      }