diff --git a/includes/class-displayfeaturedimagegenesis-output.php b/includes/class-displayfeaturedimagegenesis-output.php
index 221add8..4e87e99 100644
--- a/includes/class-displayfeaturedimagegenesis-output.php
+++ b/includes/class-displayfeaturedimagegenesis-output.php
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Output {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		add_filter( 'displayfeaturedimagegenesis_can_do', array( $this, 'can_do_things' ) );
 		$this->common = new Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Common();
 		$this->item   = Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Common::get_image_variables();
 		add_filter( 'jetpack_photon_override_image_downsize', '__return_true' );
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ class Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Output {
 
 	/**
 	 * Pass variables through to our js
-	 * @return backstretchVars variable array to send to js
+	 * @return $output variable array to send to js
 	 *
 	 * @since 2.3.0
 	 */
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ class Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Output {
 	 *
 	 * @since 2.3.4
 	 */
-	protected function can_do_things() {
+	public function can_do_things() {
 		$medium = (int) apply_filters( 'displayfeaturedimagegenesis_set_medium_width', get_option( 'medium_size_w' ) );
 		$width  = (int) $this->item->backstretch[1];
 
diff --git a/includes/helper-functions.php b/includes/helper-functions.php
index 252b6ba..e5a611d 100644
--- a/includes/helper-functions.php
+++ b/includes/helper-functions.php
@@ -215,3 +215,13 @@ function displayfeaturedimagegenesis_check_image_id( $image_id = '' ) {
 	$image_id = is_numeric( $image_id ) ? $image_id : Display_Featured_Image_Genesis_Common::get_image_id( $image_id );
 	return $image_id;
 }
+
+/**
+ * helper function to evaluate whether or not the plugin can run.
+ * @return mixed|void
+ *
+ * @since 2.4.2
+ */
+function displayfeaturedimagegenesis_can_do() {
+	return apply_filters( 'displayfeaturedimagegenesis_can_do', false );
+}