diff --git a/lib/file.js b/lib/file.js
index 0ee6a169..36459601 100644
--- a/lib/file.js
+++ b/lib/file.js
@@ -7,10 +7,20 @@ var Gun = require('../gun'),
 	file = {};
 
 function isUsingFileJS (context) {
-	var gun = context.gun;
-	var opt = context.opt || gun.Back('opt') || {};
 
-	return opt.file !== false;
+	// Options passed via .get or .put.
+	var methodOptions = context.opt || {};
+
+	// Options set on the gun chain.
+	var chainOptions = context.gun.Back('opt') || {};
+
+	// Favor method options over chain options.
+	var file = methodOptions.hasOwnProperty('file')
+		? methodOptions.file
+		: chainOptions.file;
+
+	// Return whether the module is disabled.
+	return file !== false;
 }
 
 // queue writes, adapted from https://github.com/toolness/jsondown/blob/master/jsondown.js