diff --git a/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb b/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
index 96e878eaa0b452..26643a41652e90 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
+++ b/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ def react_native_post_install(
   ReactNativePodsUtils.apply_mac_catalyst_patches(installer) if mac_catalyst_enabled
 
   fabric_enabled = ENV['RCT_FABRIC_ENABLED'] == '1'
-  hermes_enabled = ReactNativePodsUtils.has_pod(installer, "React-hermes")
+  hermes_enabled = ENV['USE_HERMES'] == '1'
 
   if hermes_enabled
     ReactNativePodsUtils.set_gcc_preprocessor_definition_for_React_hermes(installer)