diff --git a/crates/node/src/add_ons/remote_block_source.rs b/crates/node/src/add_ons/remote_block_source.rs
index a6adbfe0..e76eb03f 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/add_ons/remote_block_source.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/add_ons/remote_block_source.rs
@@ -190,6 +190,11 @@ where
                 continue;
             }
 
+            if !self.config.build {
+                tracing::debug!(target: "scroll::remote_source", "Imported block is valid, but build is disabled, skipping build");
+                continue;
+            }
+
             // Trigger block building on top of the imported block
             self.orchestrator_handle.build_block();
 
diff --git a/crates/node/src/args.rs b/crates/node/src/args.rs
index 62483907..77aca190 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/args.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/args.rs
@@ -976,6 +976,10 @@ pub struct RemoteBlockSourceArgs {
         value_name = "POLL_INTERVAL_MS"
     )]
     pub poll_interval_ms: u64,
+
+    /// Whether to build blocks using the remote source.
+    #[arg(long = "remote-source.build")]
+    pub build: bool,
 }
 
 /// Returns the total difficulty constant for the given chain.
@@ -1097,6 +1101,7 @@ mod tests {
                 enabled: true,
                 url: None,
                 poll_interval_ms: 100,
+                build: false,
             },
             require_l1_data_fee_buffer: false,
         };
diff --git a/crates/node/src/test_utils/fixture.rs b/crates/node/src/test_utils/fixture.rs
index 58d2eb4c..ea7f1abe 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/test_utils/fixture.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/test_utils/fixture.rs
@@ -726,6 +726,7 @@ impl TestFixtureBuilder {
             let mut remote_config = self.config.clone();
             remote_config.sequencer_args.sequencer_enabled = true; // needs to build blocks
             remote_config.sequencer_args.auto_start = false;
+            remote_config.remote_block_source_args.build = true;
             remote_config.remote_block_source_args.enabled = true;
             remote_config.remote_block_source_args.url = Some(sequencer_url);
             // Use a fast poll interval for tests
diff --git a/crates/node/src/test_utils/reboot.rs b/crates/node/src/test_utils/reboot.rs
index cb9591aa..5f472322 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/test_utils/reboot.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/test_utils/reboot.rs
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ impl TestFixture {
             let mut remote_config = self.config.clone();
             remote_config.sequencer_args.sequencer_enabled = true;
             remote_config.sequencer_args.auto_start = false;
+            remote_config.remote_block_source_args.build = true;
             remote_config.remote_block_source_args.enabled = true;
             remote_config.remote_block_source_args.url = Some(sequencer_url);
             remote_config.remote_block_source_args.poll_interval_ms = 100;
diff --git a/tests/launch_rollup_node_remote_source.bash b/tests/launch_rollup_node_remote_source.bash
index df2ede66..4ecda31d 100755
--- a/tests/launch_rollup_node_remote_source.bash
+++ b/tests/launch_rollup_node_remote_source.bash
@@ -30,5 +30,6 @@ exec rollup-node node --chain /l2reth/l2reth-genesis-e2e.json --datadir=/l2reth
   --remote-source.enabled \
   --remote-source.url http://rollup-node-sequencer:8545 \
   --remote-source.poll-interval-ms 100 \
+  --remote-source.build \
   --l1.url http://l1-node:8545 \
   --blob.mock