diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_update_main.yaml b/.github/workflows/auto_update_main.yaml
index df885bd7cb..3787882ac1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto_update_main.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto_update_main.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ on:
     - cron:  '0 3 * * *'
   workflow_dispatch:  # triggered by http endpoints (ref should be refs/head/main)
 
+env:
+  BIOIMAGEIO_COUNT_RDF_DOWNLOADS: 'false'
 
 jobs:
   clean-up-pr:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate_resources.yaml b/.github/workflows/validate_resources.yaml
index f9832a824e..2be412c04e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate_resources.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate_resources.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ on:
         description: "yes/no if pending matrices are not empty"
         value: ${{ jobs.static-validation.outputs.has_pending_matrices }}
 
+env:
+  BIOIMAGEIO_COUNT_RDF_DOWNLOADS: 'false'
+
 jobs:
   static-validation:  # + update rdfs
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest