diff --git a/pkg/envvar/const.go b/pkg/envvar/const.go
index 7a2e4542..2a79766c 100644
--- a/pkg/envvar/const.go
+++ b/pkg/envvar/const.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package envvar
 
 const (
 	DisableInsecureFeatures = "HELMFILE_DISABLE_INSECURE_FEATURES"
+	DisableHooks            = "HELMFILE_DISABLE_HOOKS"
 
 	// use helm status to check if a release exists before installing it
 	UseHelmStatusToCheckReleaseExistence = "HELMFILE_USE_HELM_STATUS_TO_CHECK_RELEASE_EXISTENCE"
diff --git a/pkg/event/bus.go b/pkg/event/bus.go
index 09dfaba6..76e11eba 100644
--- a/pkg/event/bus.go
+++ b/pkg/event/bus.go
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ package event
 import (
 	goContext "context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/environment"
+	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/envvar"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/filesystem"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/helmexec"
 	"github.com/helmfile/helmfile/pkg/tmpl"
@@ -42,7 +45,19 @@ type Bus struct {
 	Logger *zap.SugaredLogger
 }
 
+var (
+	disableHooks bool
+)
+
+func init() {
+	disableHooks, _ = strconv.ParseBool(os.Getenv(envvar.DisableHooks))
+}
+
 func (bus *Bus) Trigger(evt string, evtErr error, context map[string]any) (bool, error) {
+	if disableHooks && len(bus.Hooks) > 0 {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("%s is active, hooks are disabled", envvar.DisableHooks)
+	}
+
 	if bus.Runner == nil {
 		bus.Runner = helmexec.ShellRunner{
 			Dir:    bus.BasePath,
diff --git a/pkg/event/bus_test.go b/pkg/event/bus_test.go
index 26c4b0f3..2334f175 100644
--- a/pkg/event/bus_test.go
+++ b/pkg/event/bus_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest/observer"
 
@@ -43,6 +44,32 @@ func (r *runner) Execute(cmd string, args []string, env map[string]string, enabl
 	return []byte(""), nil
 }
 
+func TestTrigger_DisabledHooks(t *testing.T) {
+	currentVal := disableHooks
+
+	{
+		disableHooks = true
+		bus := &Bus{Hooks: []Hook{{}}}
+		_, err := bus.Trigger("foo", nil, nil)
+		require.EqualError(t, err, "HELMFILE_DISABLE_HOOKS is active, hooks are disabled")
+	}
+
+	disableHooks = currentVal
+}
+
+func TestTrigger_DisabledHooksWithEmptyHooks(t *testing.T) {
+	currentVal := disableHooks
+
+	{
+		disableHooks = true
+		bus := &Bus{}
+		_, err := bus.Trigger("foo", nil, nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	disableHooks = currentVal
+}
+
 func TestTrigger(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
 		name           string