diff --git a/lib/rules_core/smartquotes.js b/lib/rules_core/smartquotes.js
index e96fc71..9e04278 100644
--- a/lib/rules_core/smartquotes.js
+++ b/lib/rules_core/smartquotes.js
@@ -187,7 +187,11 @@ module.exports = function smartquotes(state) {
   /*eslint max-depth:0*/
   var blkIdx;
 
-  if (!state.md.options.typographer) { return; }
+  var typographerOption = state.md.options.typographer;
+  if (!typographerOption) { return; }
+
+  var optionIsObject = typeof typographerOption === 'object';
+  if (optionIsObject && !typographerOption.quotes) { return; }
 
   for (blkIdx = state.tokens.length - 1; blkIdx >= 0; blkIdx--) {