diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/app.go b/modules/caddyhttp/app.go
index e48f8286400..3edc5b23a96 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/app.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/app.go
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func (app *App) Provision(ctx caddy.Context) error {
 		// route handler so that important security checks are done, etc.
 		primaryRoute := emptyHandler
 		if srv.Routes != nil {
-			err := srv.Routes.ProvisionHandlers(ctx)
+			err := srv.Routes.ProvisionHandlers(ctx, srv.Metrics)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("server %s: setting up route handlers: %v", srvName, err)
 			}
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/metrics.go b/modules/caddyhttp/metrics.go
index 458c22afebc..64fbed750e4 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/metrics.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/metrics.go
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promauto"
 )
 
+// Metrics configures metrics observations.
+// EXPERIMENTAL and subject to change or removal.
+type Metrics struct{}
+
 var httpMetrics = struct {
 	init             sync.Once
 	requestInFlight  *prometheus.GaugeVec
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/routes.go b/modules/caddyhttp/routes.go
index ce9bece20c2..da25097bfa1 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/routes.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/routes.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (routes RouteList) Provision(ctx caddy.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return routes.ProvisionHandlers(ctx)
+	return routes.ProvisionHandlers(ctx, nil)
 }
 
 // ProvisionMatchers sets up all the matchers by loading the
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (routes RouteList) ProvisionMatchers(ctx caddy.Context) error {
 // handler modules. Only call this method directly if you need
 // to set up matchers and handlers separately without having
 // to provision a second time; otherwise use Provision instead.
-func (routes RouteList) ProvisionHandlers(ctx caddy.Context) error {
+func (routes RouteList) ProvisionHandlers(ctx caddy.Context, metrics *Metrics) error {
 	for i := range routes {
 		handlersIface, err := ctx.LoadModule(&routes[i], "HandlersRaw")
 		if err != nil {
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (routes RouteList) ProvisionHandlers(ctx caddy.Context) error {
 
 		// pre-compile the middleware handler chain
 		for _, midhandler := range routes[i].Handlers {
-			routes[i].middleware = append(routes[i].middleware, wrapMiddleware(ctx, midhandler))
+			routes[i].middleware = append(routes[i].middleware, wrapMiddleware(ctx, midhandler, metrics))
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -270,9 +270,12 @@ func wrapRoute(route Route) Middleware {
 // we need to pull this particular MiddlewareHandler
 // pointer into its own stack frame to preserve it so it
 // won't be overwritten in future loop iterations.
-func wrapMiddleware(ctx caddy.Context, mh MiddlewareHandler) Middleware {
-	// wrap the middleware with metrics instrumentation
-	metricsHandler := newMetricsInstrumentedHandler(caddy.GetModuleName(mh), mh)
+func wrapMiddleware(ctx caddy.Context, mh MiddlewareHandler, metrics *Metrics) Middleware {
+	handlerToUse := mh
+	if metrics != nil {
+		// wrap the middleware with metrics instrumentation
+		handlerToUse = newMetricsInstrumentedHandler(caddy.GetModuleName(mh), mh)
+	}
 
 	return func(next Handler) Handler {
 		// copy the next handler (it's an interface, so it's
@@ -284,7 +287,7 @@ func wrapMiddleware(ctx caddy.Context, mh MiddlewareHandler) Middleware {
 		return HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 			// TODO: This is where request tracing could be implemented
 			// TODO: see what the std lib gives us in terms of stack tracing too
-			return metricsHandler.ServeHTTP(w, r, nextCopy)
+			return handlerToUse.ServeHTTP(w, r, nextCopy)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/caddyhttp/server.go b/modules/caddyhttp/server.go
index 83f1a533318..ca5a5949304 100644
--- a/modules/caddyhttp/server.go
+++ b/modules/caddyhttp/server.go
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ type Server struct {
 	// Default: `[h1 h2 h3]`
 	Protocols []string `json:"protocols,omitempty"`
 
+	// If set, metrics observations will be enabled.
+	// This setting is EXPERIMENTAL and subject to change.
+	Metrics *Metrics `json:"metrics,omitempty"`
+
 	name string
 
 	primaryHandlerChain Handler