diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6c39376798e495245aaa6a6352f097476122ea02..42807eccbb4431345c78c8a6dee63fc9a75e0d51 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ This job is bound to the `build` stage, and uses the following variables:
 
 | Input / Variable | Description                                                                                                                                                       | Default value         |
 |-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
-| `NODE_BUILD_DISABLED`         | Set to `true` to disable build                                                                                                                                    | _none_ (enabled)      |
+| `build-disabled` / `NODE_BUILD_DISABLED`         | Set to `true` to disable build                                                                                                                                    | _none_ (enabled)      |
 | `build-dir` / `NODE_BUILD_DIR` | Variable to define build directory                                                                                                                                | `dist`                |
 | `build-args` / `NODE_BUILD_ARGS` | npm [run script](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-run-script) arguments <br/> yarn [run script](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/run) arguments <br/> pnpm [run script](https://pnpm.io/cli/run) arguments <br/>⚠ default value should be overridden for `pnpm` as `--prod` is not a valid option. | `run build --prod`    |
 | `test-args` / `NODE_TEST_ARGS` | npm [test](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-test) arguments <br/> yarn [test](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/test) arguments  <br/> pnpm [test](https://pnpm.io/cli/test) arguments                                    | `test -- --coverage`  |
diff --git a/kicker.json b/kicker.json
index cd8190294b6563c86805b6ed7c2dabc9c2772835..fe6d12dbc5bfbf832a72c3155a0b172ffceadb01 100644
--- a/kicker.json
+++ b/kicker.json
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@
       "description": "Space separated list of NPM [scoped registries](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/using-npm/scope#associating-a-scope-with-a-registry) (formatted as `@somescope:https://some.npm.registry/some/repo @anotherscope:https://another.npm.registry/another/repo`)",
       "advanced": true
     },
+    {
+      "name": "NODE_BUILD_DISABLED",
+      "description": "Set to true to disable build",
+      "default": "false",
+      "type": "boolean",
+      "advanced": true
+    },
     {
       "name": "NODE_BUILD_ARGS",
       "description": "npm [run script](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-run-script) arguments - yarn [run script](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/run) arguments - pnpm [run script](https://pnpm.io/cli/run) arguments\n\n⚠ default value should be overridden for `pnpm` as `--prod` is not a valid option",
diff --git a/templates/gitlab-ci-node.yml b/templates/gitlab-ci-node.yml
index f51249a3fcbde90fbfe3a54b92329860a026c0c4..f048d03cbd13e2efa5acef75e7a7764a24b0a3f0 100644
--- a/templates/gitlab-ci-node.yml
+++ b/templates/gitlab-ci-node.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ spec:
     config-scoped-registries:
       description: Space separated list of NPM [scoped registries](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/using-npm/scope#associating-a-scope-with-a-registry) (formatted as `@somescope:https://some.npm.registry/some/repo @anotherscope:https://another.npm.registry/another/repo`)
       default: ''
+    build-disabled:
+      description: Set to true to disable build
+      type: boolean
+      default: false
     build-args:
       description: |-
         npm [run script](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npm-run-script) arguments - yarn [run script](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/run) arguments - pnpm [run script](https://pnpm.io/cli/run) arguments
@@ -179,6 +183,7 @@ variables:
   NODE_LINT_ENABLED: $[[ inputs.lint-enabled ]]
   NODE_LINT_ARGS: $[[ inputs.lint-args ]]
   # Node build
+  NODE_BUILD_DISABLED: $[[ inputs.build-disabled ]]
   NODE_BUILD_ARGS: $[[ inputs.build-args ]]
   # Node test
   NODE_TEST_ARGS: $[[ inputs.test-args ]]
@@ -674,7 +679,8 @@ node-build:
     expire_in: 1 day
   rules:
     # always if $NODE_BUILD_DISABLED not set
-    - if: '$NODE_BUILD_DISABLED != "true"'
+    - if: '$NODE_BUILD_DISABLED == "true"'
+      when: never
     - !reference [.test-policy, rules]
 
 node-lint: