diff --git a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
index 04307115..97c2e9b0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ jobs:
         LOG_LEVEL: debug
         RENOVATE_ALLOWED_POST_UPGRADE_COMMANDS: '["^git", "^pip", "^copier"]'
         RENOVATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: renovate-github/
+        RENOVATE_ENABLED: ${{ vars.RENOVATE_ENABLED || true }}
         RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "github-actions", "gitlabci", "regex"]'
         RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: Renovate GitHub Bot <github@renovatebot.com>
         RENOVATE_OPTIMIZE_FOR_DISABLED: 'true'
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja b/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja
index 35c9dd72..1d58d752 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_host_type == 'github.com' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ jobs:
         LOG_LEVEL: debug
         RENOVATE_ALLOWED_POST_UPGRADE_COMMANDS: '["^git", "^pip", "^copier"]'
         RENOVATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: renovate-github/
+        RENOVATE_ENABLED: {{ '${{ vars.RENOVATE_ENABLED || true }}' }}
 [%- if project_name == "Serious Scaffold Python" %]
         RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "github-actions", "gitlabci", "regex"]'
 [%- else -%]