diff --git a/build/stf-run-ci/defaults/main.yml b/build/stf-run-ci/defaults/main.yml
index 20f04d3d9..23de210b7 100644
--- a/build/stf-run-ci/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/build/stf-run-ci/defaults/main.yml
@@ -68,5 +68,6 @@ prometheus_webhook_snmp_repository: https://github.com/infrawatch/prometheus-web
 
 base_dir: ''
 
+clone_repos: true
 setup_bundle_registry_auth: true
 setup_bundle_registry_tls_ca: true
diff --git a/build/stf-run-ci/tasks/main.yml b/build/stf-run-ci/tasks/main.yml
index f8b6e0d88..198d0cafb 100644
--- a/build/stf-run-ci/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/build/stf-run-ci/tasks/main.yml
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
     - create_builds
   block:
   - name: Setup supporting repositories
+    when: clone_repos
     ansible.builtin.include_tasks: clone_repos.yml
     tags:
       - clone
diff --git a/ci/deploy_stf.yml b/ci/deploy_stf.yml
index 0f4fd6fae..22ffb8af8 100644
--- a/ci/deploy_stf.yml
+++ b/ci/deploy_stf.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
       ansible.builtin.import_role:
         name: '../build/stf-run-ci'
       vars:
+        clone_repos: false
         __service_telemetry_storage_ephemeral_enabled: true
         __local_build_enabled: false
         __deploy_from_bundles_enabled: true