diff --git a/.github/scripts/verify_envoy_version.sh b/.github/scripts/verify_envoy_version.sh
index 773431f50..bfbd969d4 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/verify_envoy_version.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/verify_envoy_version.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ if [ -z "$current_branch" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+if [[ "$SKIP_VERIFY_ENVOY_VERSION" = "true" ]]; then
+  echo -e "*************** VERIFY ENVOY VERSION IS DISABLED. To enable, update environment variable in Github settings *****************"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 # Get Consul and Envoy version 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd -- "$(dirname "$0")" >/dev/null 2>&1 ; pwd -P )"
 pushd $SCRIPT_DIR/../.. # repository root
diff --git a/.github/workflows/verify-envoy-version.yml b/.github/workflows/verify-envoy-version.yml
index d097e335d..7c46453ae 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/verify-envoy-version.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/verify-envoy-version.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ on:
       - main
       - release/**
 
+env:
+  SKIP_VERIFY_ENVOY_VERSION: ${{ vars.SKIP_VERIFY_ENVOY_VERSION }}
+
 jobs:
   verify-envoy-version:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -25,4 +28,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Envoy Version Verification for main and release branches
         run: ./.github/scripts/verify_envoy_version.sh
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ELEVATED_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
\ No newline at end of file
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ELEVATED_GITHUB_TOKEN }}