diff --git a/phing/build.yml b/phing/build.yml
index 333b74880..df918b0f9 100644
--- a/phing/build.yml
+++ b/phing/build.yml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ drush:
   assume: yes
   passthru: yes
   logoutput: yes
+  sanitize: true
   verbose: ${blt.verbose}
 
 git:
diff --git a/phing/tasks/local-sync.xml b/phing/tasks/local-sync.xml
index 4b7f1c7ef..b6812666c 100644
--- a/phing/tasks/local-sync.xml
+++ b/phing/tasks/local-sync.xml
@@ -19,13 +19,27 @@
           depends="setup:drupal:settings">
     <drush command="cc drush"/>
     <drush command="sql-drop"/>
-    <drush command="sql-sync" alias="">
-      <option name="structure-tables-key">lightweight</option>
-      <option name="create-db"/>
-      <option name="sanitize"/>
-      <param>@${drush.aliases.remote}</param>
-      <param>@${drush.aliases.local}</param>
-    </drush>
+    <if>
+      <equals arg1="${drush.sanitize}" arg2="true"/>
+      <then>
+        <drush command="sql-sync" alias="">
+          <option name="structure-tables-key">lightweight</option>
+          <option name="create-db"/>
+          <option name="sanitize"/>
+          <param>@${drush.aliases.remote}</param>
+          <param>@${drush.aliases.local}</param>
+        </drush>
+      </then>
+      <else>
+        <drush command="sql-sync" alias="">
+          <option name="structure-tables-key">lightweight</option>
+          <option name="create-db"/>
+          <param>@${drush.aliases.remote}</param>
+          <param>@${drush.aliases.local}</param>
+        </drush>
+      </else>
+    </if>
+
     <drush command="cache-clear">
       <param>drush</param>
     </drush>