diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
index 80f51b8e..de58f037 100755
--- a/setup.sh
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -1,20 +1,23 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-# install pre-reqs using yum/apt
 PYTHON="${PYTHON:=python3}"
 PYTHON_DEP="${PYTHON_DEP:=python3}"
-if command -v apt &> /dev/null
-then
-  echo "setup to install CORE using apt"
-  sudo apt install -y ${PYTHON_DEP}-pip ${PYTHON_DEP}-venv
-elif command -v yum &> /dev/null
-then
-  echo "setup to install CORE using yum"
-  sudo yum install -y ${PYTHON_DEP}-pip
-else
-  echo "apt/yum was not found"
-  echo "install python3, pip, venv, pipx, and invoke to run the automated install"
-  exit 1
+
+# install pre-reqs using yum/apt
+if [ -z "${NO_PYTHON}" ]; then
+  if command -v apt &> /dev/null
+  then
+    echo "setup to install CORE using apt"
+    sudo apt install -y ${PYTHON_DEP}-pip ${PYTHON_DEP}-venv
+  elif command -v yum &> /dev/null
+  then
+    echo "setup to install CORE using yum"
+    sudo yum install -y ${PYTHON_DEP}-pip
+  else
+    echo "apt/yum was not found"
+    echo "install python3, pip, venv, pipx, and invoke to run the automated install"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 fi
 
 # install tooling for invoke based installation