diff --git a/.github/actions/testing-setup/action.yml b/.github/actions/testing-setup/action.yml
index c6fae4ad58..c47270af0d 100644
--- a/.github/actions/testing-setup/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/testing-setup/action.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 name: 'Build-.testing-prerequisites'
 description: 'Build pre-requisites for .testing including FMS and a symmetric MOM6 executable'
+inputs:
+  build_symmetric:
+    description: 'If true, will build the symmetric MOM6 executable'
+    required: false
+    default: 'true'
+  install_python:
+    description: 'If true, will install the local python env needed for .testing'
+    required: false
+    default: 'true'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
@@ -51,7 +60,7 @@ runs:
       run: |
         echo "::group::Compile MOM6 in symmetric memory mode"
         cd .testing
-        make build/symmetric/MOM6 -j
+        test ${{ inputs.build_symmetric }} == true && make build/symmetric/MOM6 -j
         echo "::endgroup::"
 
     - name: Install local python venv for generating input data
@@ -59,7 +68,7 @@ runs:
       run: |
         echo "::group::Create local python env for input data generation"
         cd .testing
-        make work/local-env
+        test ${{ inputs.install_python }} == true && make work/local-env
         echo "::endgroup::"
 
     - name: Set flags
diff --git a/.github/workflows/coupled-api.yml b/.github/workflows/coupled-api.yml
index 4380f102ea..86d7262548 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coupled-api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coupled-api.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ jobs:
         submodules: recursive
 
     - uses: ./.github/actions/testing-setup
+      with:
+        build_symmetric: 'false'
+        install_python: 'false'
 
     - name: Compile MOM6 for the GFDL coupled driver
       shell: bash