diff --git a/wordclock/wordclock.ino b/wordclock/wordclock.ino
index b8d36a5..0396dba 100644
--- a/wordclock/wordclock.ino
+++ b/wordclock/wordclock.ino
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ void SWversion(void);
  *                      using an ISR to control the display
  */
 
+// set SKIPSELFTEST to 1 to skip selftest
+#define SKIPSELFTEST 1
 
 // set USELIGHTSENSOR to 1 to use ambient light sensor connected to ADC0 (pin
 // 23)
@@ -194,6 +196,7 @@ void setup()
   pinMode(LED4PIN, OUTPUT);
 
   analogReference(DEFAULT);
+  //analogReference(EXTERNAL);
   // known 'bug' in AVR ADC: after switching analog reference, first sample
   // could be corrupt and should be ignored --> discard this sample now
   analogRead(LIGHTSENSOR_INPUTPIN);
@@ -302,7 +305,9 @@ void setup()
 
   msTick=millis();      // Initialise the msTick counter
 
+  #if (SKIPSELFTEST != 1)
   selftest();  // validate the hardware for the user
+  #endif
 
   selftestmode=0;