diff --git a/packages/core/src/state-management/repository.ts b/packages/core/src/state-management/repository.ts
index 3deb73f60f..ca870825fc 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/state-management/repository.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/state-management/repository.ts
@@ -678,6 +678,10 @@ export class Repository {
     if (state$.value.anchorStatus == AnchorStatus.ANCHORED) {
       return
     }
+    if (process.env.CERAMIC_DISABLE_ANCHORING === 'true') {
+      this.logger.debug(`Anchor requested for stream ${state$.id} but anchoring is disabled`)
+      return
+    }
 
     const anchorEvent = await this.anchorService.requestAnchor(state$.id, state$.tip)
     // Don't wait on handling the anchor event, let that happen in the background.