diff --git a/ci-operator/config/openshift/release/openshift-release-master__ci-4.10-upgrade-from-stable-4.9.yaml b/ci-operator/config/openshift/release/openshift-release-master__ci-4.10-upgrade-from-stable-4.9.yaml
index 9ff0d534926f..c492d7afb0e4 100644
--- a/ci-operator/config/openshift/release/openshift-release-master__ci-4.10-upgrade-from-stable-4.9.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/config/openshift/release/openshift-release-master__ci-4.10-upgrade-from-stable-4.9.yaml
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ tests:
   steps:
     cluster_profile: gcp-openshift-gce-devel-ci-2
     env:
+      STALLD_ENABLED: "false"
       TEST_TYPE: upgrade-conformance
     workflow: openshift-upgrade-gcp-ovn-rt
 - as: e2e-azure-ovn-upgrade
diff --git a/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-commands.sh b/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-commands.sh
index f940bcde0464..06354d798265 100755
--- a/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-commands.sh
+++ b/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-commands.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ set -o pipefail
 node_role=${APPLY_NODE_ROLE:=worker}
 max_cpu=8
 isolated_cpu=${COMPUTE_NODE_ISOLATED_CPU:-4}
+sched_rt_runtime_us=-1
+stalld_service="service.stalld=start,enable"
 gcp_pattern="[n|c|m|a]{1}[1-9]{1}d?-(standard|highcpu|highmem|highgpu){1}-([0-9]+)"
 
 # Currently RT is only supported on GCP
@@ -24,6 +26,13 @@ if [[ "$isolated_cpu" == "$max_cpu" ]]; then
   echo "max and isolated cpu are equal, setting isolated CPU to $isolated_cpu"
 fi
 
+if [ ${STALLD_ENABLED:="true"} != "true" ]
+then
+  echo "disabling stalld and setting default realtime timeout"
+  sched_rt_runtime_us=950000
+  stalld_service=""
+fi
+
 echo "Creating new realtime tuned profile on cluster"
 oc create -f - <<EOF
 apiVersion: tuned.openshift.io/v1
@@ -48,6 +57,9 @@ spec:
       energy_perf_bias=performance
       min_perf_pct=100
 
+      [service]
+      $stalld_service
+
       [vm]
       transparent_hugepages=never
 
@@ -63,7 +75,7 @@ spec:
       [sysctl]
       kernel.hung_task_timeout_secs = 600
       kernel.nmi_watchdog = 0
-      kernel.sched_rt_runtime_us = 950000
+      kernel.sched_rt_runtime_us = $sched_rt_runtime_us
       kernel.timer_migration = 0
       kernel.numa_balancing=0
       net.core.busy_read=50
diff --git a/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-ref.yaml b/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-ref.yaml
index ba8d90f21211..e384d43b4523 100644
--- a/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-ref.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/step-registry/optional-operators/configure-realtime-tuned-profile/optional-operators-configure-realtime-tuned-profile-ref.yaml
@@ -21,5 +21,9 @@ ref:
       Isolated cores to use for RT configuration
       4 vCPU is the current default for workload isolation, this is mirrored in our configs for RT
       https://github.com/openshift/enhancements/blob/master/enhancements/workload-partitioning/management-workload-partitioning.md#goals
+  - name: STALLD_ENABLED
+    default: "true"
+    documentation: |-
+      To use stalld to prevent thread starvation
   documentation: |-
     The configure-realtime-tuned-profile step applies realtime tuned profile to cluster workers.