diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml b/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
index 661f9754b6..dc86050d57 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish_pypi.yml
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ jobs:
         run: pipx run cibuildwheel --output-dir wheelhouse
         env:
           CIBW_ENVIRONMENT: >
+            PYBAMM_DISABLE_TELEMETRY="true"
             PYBAMM_USE_VCPKG=ON
             VCPKG_ROOT_DIR=C:\vcpkg
             VCPKG_DEFAULT_TRIPLET=x64-windows-static-md
@@ -117,6 +118,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build wheels on Linux
         run: pipx run cibuildwheel --output-dir wheelhouse
         env:
+          CIBW_ENVIRONMENT: >
+            PYBAMM_DISABLE_TELEMETRY="true"
           CIBW_ARCHS_LINUX: x86_64
           CIBW_BEFORE_ALL_LINUX: >
             yum -y install openblas-devel lapack-devel &&
@@ -243,6 +246,8 @@ jobs:
             python scripts/install_KLU_Sundials.py
             python -m cibuildwheel --output-dir wheelhouse
         env:
+          CIBW_ENVIRONMENT: >
+            PYBAMM_DISABLE_TELEMETRY="true"
           # 10.13 for Intel (macos-13), 11.0 for Apple Silicon (macos-14 and macos-latest)
           MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET: ${{ matrix.os == 'macos-14' && '11.0' || '10.13' }}
           CIBW_ARCHS_MACOS: auto
diff --git a/src/pybamm/config.py b/src/pybamm/config.py
index d3f4ab70a2..f80ed93977 100644
--- a/src/pybamm/config.py
+++ b/src/pybamm/config.py
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@
 import time
 
 
+def check_opt_out():
+    opt_out = os.getenv("PYBAMM_DISABLE_TELEMETRY", "false").lower() != "false"
+    config = pybamm.config.read()
+    if config:
+        opt_out = opt_out or not config["enable_telemetry"]
+    return opt_out
+
+
 def is_running_tests():  # pragma: no cover
     """
     Detect if the code is being run as part of a test suite or building docs with Sphinx.
@@ -15,11 +23,6 @@ def is_running_tests():  # pragma: no cover
     Returns:
         bool: True if running tests or building docs, False otherwise.
     """
-    # Check for common test runner names in command-line arguments
-    test_runners = ["pytest", "unittest", "nose", "trial", "nox", "tox"]
-    if any(runner in arg.lower() for arg in sys.argv for runner in test_runners):
-        return True
-
     # Check for other common CI environment variables
     ci_env_vars = [
         "GITHUB_ACTIONS",
@@ -28,13 +31,10 @@ def is_running_tests():  # pragma: no cover
         "CIRCLECI",
         "JENKINS_URL",
         "GITLAB_CI",
-        "CIBW_TEST_COMMAND",
     ]
     if any(var in os.environ for var in ci_env_vars):
         return True
 
-    assert False
-
     # Check if pytest or unittest is running
     if any(
         test_module in sys.modules for test_module in ["pytest", "unittest", "nose"]
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def get_input():  # pragma: no cover
 
 
 def generate():
-    if is_running_tests():
+    if is_running_tests() or check_opt_out():
         return
 
     # Check if the config file already exists
diff --git a/src/pybamm/telemetry.py b/src/pybamm/telemetry.py
index 92a7073001..fdd7b6cad8 100644
--- a/src/pybamm/telemetry.py
+++ b/src/pybamm/telemetry.py
@@ -1,17 +1,8 @@
 from posthog import Posthog
-import os
 import pybamm
 import sys
 
 
-def check_opt_out():
-    opt_out = os.getenv("PYBAMM_DISABLE_TELEMETRY", "false").lower() != "false"
-    config = pybamm.config.read()
-    if config:
-        opt_out = opt_out or not config["enable_telemetry"]
-    return opt_out
-
-
 class MockTelemetry:
     def __init__(self):
         class MockLog:
@@ -27,7 +18,7 @@ def capture(**kwargs):
         pass
 
 
-if check_opt_out():
+if pybamm.config.check_opt_out():
     _posthog = MockTelemetry()
 else:
     _posthog = Posthog(
@@ -43,7 +34,7 @@ def disable():
     _posthog.disabled = True
 
 
-if check_opt_out():  # pragma: no cover
+if pybamm.config.check_opt_out():  # pragma: no cover
     disable()
 
 
@@ -52,7 +43,7 @@ def capture(event):  # pragma: no cover
     if pybamm.config.is_running_tests() or _posthog.disabled:
         return
 
-    if check_opt_out():
+    if pybamm.config.check_opt_out():
         disable()
         return
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_config.py b/tests/unit/test_config.py
index 62906b348d..9c5e79e732 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_config.py
@@ -108,10 +108,8 @@ def mock_select(*args, **kwargs):
         assert "Timeout reached. Defaulting to not enabling telemetry." in captured.out
 
     def test_generate_and_read(self, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
-        # Mock is_running_tests to return False
         monkeypatch.setattr(pybamm.config, "is_running_tests", lambda: False)
-
-        # Mock ask_user_opt_in to return True
+        monkeypatch.setattr(pybamm.config, "check_opt_out", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(pybamm.config, "ask_user_opt_in", lambda: True)
 
         # Mock telemetry capture