diff --git a/awx/main/models/jobs.py b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
index fa313dfc23..79366f27ad 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
@@ -600,6 +600,19 @@ class Job(UnifiedJob, JobOptions, SurveyJobMixin, JobNotificationMixin, TaskMana
     def get_ui_url(self):
         return urljoin(settings.TOWER_URL_BASE, "/#/jobs/playbook/{}".format(self.pk))
 
+    def _set_default_dependencies_processed(self):
+        """
+        This sets the initial value of dependencies_processed
+        and here we use this as a shortcut to avoid the DependencyManager for jobs that do not need it
+        """
+        if (not self.project) or self.project.scm_update_on_launch:
+            self.dependencies_processed = False
+        elif (not self.inventory) or self.inventory.inventory_sources.filter(update_on_launch=True).exists():
+            self.dependencies_processed = False
+        else:
+            # No dependencies to process
+            self.dependencies_processed = True
+
     @property
     def event_class(self):
         if self.has_unpartitioned_events: