diff --git a/src/stores/releaseStore.ts b/src/stores/releaseStore.ts
index b795fbca18..37faee5a2d 100644
--- a/src/stores/releaseStore.ts
+++ b/src/stores/releaseStore.ts
@@ -226,6 +226,14 @@ export const useReleaseStore = defineStore('release', () => {
       return
     }
 
+    // Skip fetching if API nodes are disabled via argv
+    if (
+      systemStatsStore.systemStats?.system?.argv?.includes(
+        '--disable-api-nodes'
+      )
+    ) {
+      return
+    }
     isLoading.value = true
     error.value = null
 
diff --git a/tests-ui/tests/store/releaseStore.test.ts b/tests-ui/tests/store/releaseStore.test.ts
index 8e49a56af4..730037f038 100644
--- a/tests-ui/tests/store/releaseStore.test.ts
+++ b/tests-ui/tests/store/releaseStore.test.ts
@@ -251,6 +251,53 @@ describe('useReleaseStore', () => {
       })
     })
 
+    it('should skip fetching when --disable-api-nodes is present', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = ['--disable-api-nodes']
+
+      await store.initialize()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.isLoading).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('should skip fetching when --disable-api-nodes is one of multiple args', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = [
+        '--port',
+        '8080',
+        '--disable-api-nodes',
+        '--verbose'
+      ]
+
+      await store.initialize()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.isLoading).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('should fetch normally when --disable-api-nodes is not present', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = [
+        '--port',
+        '8080',
+        '--verbose'
+      ]
+      mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue([mockRelease])
+
+      await store.initialize()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.releases).toEqual([mockRelease])
+    })
+
+    it('should fetch normally when argv is undefined', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = undefined
+      mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue([mockRelease])
+
+      await store.initialize()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.releases).toEqual([mockRelease])
+    })
+
     it('should handle API errors gracefully', async () => {
       mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue(null)
       mockReleaseService.error.value = 'API Error'
@@ -307,6 +354,63 @@ describe('useReleaseStore', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('--disable-api-nodes argument handling', () => {
+    it('should skip fetchReleases when --disable-api-nodes is present', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = ['--disable-api-nodes']
+
+      await store.fetchReleases()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.isLoading).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('should skip fetchReleases when --disable-api-nodes is among other args', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = [
+        '--port',
+        '8080',
+        '--disable-api-nodes',
+        '--verbose'
+      ]
+
+      await store.fetchReleases()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.isLoading).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('should proceed with fetchReleases when --disable-api-nodes is not present', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = [
+        '--port',
+        '8080',
+        '--verbose'
+      ]
+      mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue([mockRelease])
+
+      await store.fetchReleases()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    it('should proceed with fetchReleases when argv is null', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats.system.argv = null
+      mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue([mockRelease])
+
+      await store.fetchReleases()
+
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    it('should proceed with fetchReleases when system stats are not available', async () => {
+      mockSystemStatsStore.systemStats = null
+      mockReleaseService.getReleases.mockResolvedValue([mockRelease])
+
+      await store.fetchReleases()
+
+      expect(mockSystemStatsStore.fetchSystemStats).toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(mockReleaseService.getReleases).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('action handlers', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       store.releases = [mockRelease]