diff --git a/src/bin.mts b/src/bin.mts
index b368281..b3b08e8 100644
--- a/src/bin.mts
+++ b/src/bin.mts
@@ -47,17 +47,16 @@ const args = yargs(process.argv)
     group: vscodeSection,
   })
   .option('install-extensions', {
-    alias: 'e',
     type: 'array',
     description:
       "A list of vscode extensions to install prior to running the tests. Can be specified as 'owner.extension','owner.extension@2.3.15', 'owner.extension@prerelease', or the path to a vsix file (/path/to/extension.vsix)",
     group: vscodeSection,
   })
-  .option('install-extension-dependencies', {
-    alias: 'd',
-    type: 'array',
+  .option('skip-extension-dependencies', {
+    type: 'boolean',
+    default: false,
     description:
-      'If specified, will install all extensions listed in the extensionDependencies key of the package.json located at ExtensionDevelopmentPath. Extension specifications (such as specifying a prerelease or pinned version) defined in extensions will override entries found via this setting.',
+      'By default, vscode-cli will install all extensions listed in the extensionDependencies key of the package.json located at ExtensionDevelopmentPath. --install-extensions will override any extensions found in this manner. This setting disables this autodiscovery behavior.',
     group: vscodeSection,
   })
   //#region Rules & Behavior
@@ -396,14 +395,14 @@ async function runConfigs(configs: readonly IConfigWithPath[]) {
       const desktopPlatform = config.desktopPlatform;
       const extensionDevelopmentPath = config.extensionDevelopmentPath?.slice() || dirname(path);
       const extensionsToInstall = args.installExtensions?.map(String) || config.installExtensions;
-      const installDependentExtensions =
-        !!args.installExtensionDependencies || config.installExtensionDependencies;
+      const skipExtensionDependencies =
+        !!args.skipExtensionDependencies || config.skipExtensionDependencies;
 
-      if (extensionsToInstall || installDependentExtensions) {
+      if (extensionsToInstall || skipExtensionDependencies) {
         const installResult = await installExtensions(
           extensionDevelopmentPath,
           extensionsToInstall,
-          installDependentExtensions,
+          skipExtensionDependencies,
           codeVersion,
           desktopPlatform,
           reporter,
diff --git a/src/config.cts b/src/config.cts
index cc5fb0f..cee4179 100644
--- a/src/config.cts
+++ b/src/config.cts
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ export interface IDesktopTestConfiguration extends IBaseTestConfiguration {
   /** A list of vscode extensions to install prior to running the tests. Can be specified as 'owner.extension','owner.extension\@2.3.15', 'owner.extension\@prerelease', or the path to a vsix file (/path/to/extension.vsix) */
   installExtensions?: string[];
 
-  /** If specified, will install all extensions listed in the extensionDependencies key of the package.json located at ExtensionDevelopmentPath. Extension specifications (such as specifying a prerelease or pinned version) defined in extensions will override entries found via this setting. */
-  installExtensionDependencies?: boolean;
+  /** Skips the automatic extensionDependencies package.json discovery */
+  skipExtensionDependencies?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/extensionInstall.mts b/src/extensionInstall.mts
index d63b8a4..1a6f8d9 100644
--- a/src/extensionInstall.mts
+++ b/src/extensionInstall.mts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 export async function installExtensions(
   extensionDevelopmentPath: string | string[],
   extensions: string[] = [],
-  installDependentExtensions: boolean = false,
+  skipExtensionDependencies: boolean = false,
   codeVersion?: string,
   desktopPlatform?: string,
   reporter?: ProgressReporter,
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ export async function installExtensions(
     ? extensionDevelopmentPath
     : [extensionDevelopmentPath];
 
-  const extensionsToInstall = installDependentExtensions
-    ? mergeDependentExtensions(extensions, extensionDevelopmentPaths)
-    : extensions;
+  const extensionsToInstall = skipExtensionDependencies
+    ? extensions
+    : mergeDependentExtensions(extensions, extensionDevelopmentPaths);
 
   const [cli, ...cliArgs] = electron.resolveCliArgsFromVSCodeExecutablePath(vscodePath, {
     platform: desktopPlatform,