diff --git a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/config.lua b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/config.lua
index f249ba4..357a38a 100644
--- a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/config.lua
+++ b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/config.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ local defaultConfig = {
     showMessages = true,
     -- npc settings
     disableNPCs = true,
+    disableNPCsInWilderness = false,
     moveNPCs = true, -- move NPCs to homes
     keepBadWeatherNPCs = true,
     -- classes and races that are ignored during inclement weather
diff --git a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/checks.lua b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/checks.lua
index 0520b89..e7239d0 100644
--- a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/checks.lua
+++ b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/checks.lua
@@ -4,12 +4,6 @@ local config = require("celediel.NPCsGoHome.config").getConfig()
 local dataTables = require("celediel.NPCsGoHome.functions.dataTables")
 local cellEvaluators = require("celediel.NPCsGoHome.functions.cellEvaluators")
 
--- {{{ local variables and such
-
--- city name if cell.name is nil
-local wilderness = "Wilderness"
--- }}}
-
 -- {{{ local functions
 local function log(level, ...) if config.logLevel >= level then common.log(...) end end
 
@@ -80,15 +74,10 @@ this.isCityCell = function(internalCellId, externalCellId)
 end
 
 this.isIgnoredCell = function(cell)
-    log(common.logLevels.large, "[CHECKS] %s is %s, %s is %s", cell.id,
-        config.ignored[cell.id] and "ignored" or "not ignored", cell.sourceMod,
-        config.ignored[cell.sourceMod] and "ignored" or "not ignored")
+    log(common.logLevels.large, "[CHECKS] %s is %s", cell.id,
+        config.ignored[cell.id:lower()] and "ignored" or "not ignored")
 
-    -- don't do things in the wilderness
-    -- local wilderness = false
-    -- if not cell.name then wilderness = true end
-
-    return config.ignored[cell.id] or config.ignored[cell.sourceMod] -- or wilderness
+    return config.ignored[cell.id:lower()] -- or config.ignored[cell.sourceMod:lower()] -- or wilderness
 end
 
 -- ! this one depends on tes3 ! --
@@ -165,8 +154,10 @@ this.isNPCPet = function(creature) -- > isPet, isLinkedToTravelNPC
     local obj = creature.baseObject and creature.baseObject or creature.object
 
     -- todo: more pets?
+    -- pack guars
     if obj.id:match("guar") and obj.mesh:match("pack") then
         return true
+        -- imperial carriages
     elseif obj.id:match("_[Hh]rs") and obj.mesh:match("_[Hh]orse") then
         return true, true
     else
@@ -188,7 +179,7 @@ this.isPublicHouse = function(cell)
         city = common.split(cell.name, ",")[1]
         publicHouseName = common.split(cell.name, ",")[2]:gsub("^%s", "")
     else
-        city = wilderness
+        city = "Wilderness"
         publicHouseName = cell.id
     end
 
diff --git a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/processors.lua b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/processors.lua
index 4635301..5e8f757 100644
--- a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/processors.lua
+++ b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/functions/processors.lua
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ local function disableOrMove(npc, cell)
     local npcHome = config.moveNPCs and housing.pickHomeForNPC(cell, npc) or nil
     if npcHome then
         moveNPC(npcHome)
-    else
+    elseif cell.name or (not cell.name and config.disableNPCsInWilderness) then
+        -- todo: re-enable NPCs in wilderness if this config option is changed
         disableNPC(npc)
     end
 end
@@ -122,7 +123,8 @@ end
 -- search in a specific cell for moved or disabled NPCs
 local function checkForMovedOrDisabledNPCs(cell)
     -- NPCs don't get moved to exterior cells, so no need to check them for moved NPCs
-    if not checks.isInteriorCell(cell) then return end
+    -- NPCs do get disabled in interior cells though
+    -- if not checks.isInteriorCell(cell) then return end
 
     log(common.logLevels.medium, "[PROC] Looking for moved NPCs in cell %s", cell.id)
     for npc in cell:iterateReferences(tes3.objectType.npc) do
diff --git a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/mcm.lua b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/mcm.lua
index cd9460e..7417b35 100644
--- a/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/mcm.lua
+++ b/MWSE/mods/celediel/NPCsGoHome/mcm.lua
@@ -38,16 +38,22 @@ category:createYesNoButton({label = "Lock doors and containers at night?", varia
 
 category:createYesNoButton({label = "Disable non-Guard NPCs at night?", variable = createTableVar("disableNPCs")})
 
+category:createYesNoButton({
+    label = "Disable NPCs in wilderness?",
+    description = "Cells that don't have a specific name (i.e. Region cells) are 'wilderness' cells.",
+    variable = createTableVar("disableNPCsInWilderness")
+})
+
 category:createYesNoButton({
     label = "Move NPCs into their homes at night and in bad weather instead of disabling them?",
-    description = "NOTE: Without the proper positions in data/positions.lua this could result in bad placement!!!\n\n"..
+    description = "NOTE: Without the proper positions in data/positions.lua this could result in bad placement!!!\n\n" ..
         "Make a PR with some more positions if you feel like it.",
     variable = createTableVar("moveNPCs")
 })
 
 category:createYesNoButton({
     label = "Move \"homeless\" NPCs to public spaces at night and in bad weather instead of disabling them?",
-    description = "NOTE: Without the proper positions in data/positions.lua this could result in bad placement, "..
+    description = "NOTE: Without the proper positions in data/positions.lua this could result in bad placement, " ..
         "and if multiple NPCs are placed in the same spot, they might DIE!!!\n\n" ..
         "Make a PR with some more positions if you feel like it.",
     variable = createTableVar("homelessWanderersToPublicHouses")