diff --git a/bin/interpreter.sh b/bin/interpreter.sh
index e039b58a5b..0132b42b76 100755
--- a/bin/interpreter.sh
+++ b/bin/interpreter.sh
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ if [[ ! -z "$ZEPPELIN_IMPERSONATE_USER" ]]; then
 fi
 
 if [[ -n "${SPARK_SUBMIT}" ]]; then
-    if [[ -n "$ZEPPELIN_IMPERSONATE_USER" ]]; then
+    if [[ -n "$ZEPPELIN_IMPERSONATE_USER" ]] && [[ "$ZEPPELIN_IMPERSONATE_SPARK_PROXY_USER" != "false" ]];  then
        INTERPRETER_RUN_COMMAND+=' '` echo ${SPARK_SUBMIT} --class ${ZEPPELIN_SERVER} --driver-class-path \"${ZEPPELIN_INTP_CLASSPATH_OVERRIDES}:${CLASSPATH}\" --driver-java-options \"${JAVA_INTP_OPTS}\" ${SPARK_SUBMIT_OPTIONS} --proxy-user ${ZEPPELIN_IMPERSONATE_USER} ${SPARK_APP_JAR} ${PORT}`
     else
        INTERPRETER_RUN_COMMAND+=' '` echo ${SPARK_SUBMIT} --class ${ZEPPELIN_SERVER} --driver-class-path \"${ZEPPELIN_INTP_CLASSPATH_OVERRIDES}:${CLASSPATH}\" --driver-java-options \"${JAVA_INTP_OPTS}\" ${SPARK_SUBMIT_OPTIONS} ${SPARK_APP_JAR} ${PORT}`