diff --git a/conda_smithy/templates/build_steps.sh.tmpl b/conda_smithy/templates/build_steps.sh.tmpl
index 2c9408675..ee2c740c8 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/templates/build_steps.sh.tmpl
+++ b/conda_smithy/templates/build_steps.sh.tmpl
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ CONDARC
 {%- if build_with_mambabuild %}
 {{ CONDA_INSTALL_CMD }} update --update-specs --yes --quiet "{{ remote_ci_setup }}" conda-build pip {{ GET_BOA }}-c conda-forge
 {%- endif %}
+# Disable annoying pip checks during failed installs
+pip config set global.disable-pip-version-check true
 {% if local_ci_setup %}
 conda uninstall --quiet --yes --force "{{ remote_ci_setup }}"
 pip install --no-deps ${RECIPE_ROOT}/.