diff --git a/.kokoro/build.sh b/.kokoro/build.sh
index 13e4bf27e214..313dcccfcfb3 100755
--- a/.kokoro/build.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/build.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ cd github/google-cloud-java/
 java -version
 echo $JOB_TYPE
 
-mvn install -DskipTests=true -Dmaven.javadoc.skip=true -B -V
+mvn install -DskipTests=true -Dmaven.javadoc.skip=true -Dgcloud.download.skip=true -B -V
 
 # prepend Kokoro root directory onto GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS path
 if [ ! -z "$GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS" ]; then
diff --git a/google-cloud-testing/google-cloud-gcloud-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/DownloadComponentsMojo.java b/google-cloud-testing/google-cloud-gcloud-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/DownloadComponentsMojo.java
index 491aaf284efb..3baa1e4f7a8d 100644
--- a/google-cloud-testing/google-cloud-gcloud-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/DownloadComponentsMojo.java
+++ b/google-cloud-testing/google-cloud-gcloud-maven-plugin/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/DownloadComponentsMojo.java
@@ -77,10 +77,17 @@ public class DownloadComponentsMojo extends AbstractMojo {
   @Parameter(defaultValue = "false", required = true, property = "gcloud.download.force")
   private boolean forceRefresh;
 
+  @Parameter(defaultValue = "false", required = true, property = "gcloud.download.skip")
+  private boolean shouldSkipDownload;
+
   @Parameter(defaultValue = "${session}", readonly = true)
   private MavenSession session;
 
   public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException {
+    if (shouldSkipDownload) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (session.isOffline() && forceRefresh) {
       throw new MojoExecutionException("Can't force refresh when offline");
     }