diff --git a/awx/main/conf.py b/awx/main/conf.py
index e635fbc08d..a9802f9289 100644
--- a/awx/main/conf.py
+++ b/awx/main/conf.py
@@ -277,6 +277,16 @@ register(
     placeholder={'HTTP_PROXY': 'myproxy.local:8080'},
 )
 
+register(
+    'AWX_ROLES_ENABLED',
+    field_class=fields.BooleanField,
+    default=True,
+    label=_('Enable Role Download'),
+    help_text=_('Allows roles to be dynamically downlaoded from a requirements.yml file for SCM projects.'),
+    category=_('Jobs'),
+    category_slug='jobs',
+)
+
 register(
     'STDOUT_MAX_BYTES_DISPLAY',
     field_class=fields.IntegerField,
diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index 3e6c407824..28c11b13a2 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -1521,6 +1521,7 @@ class RunProjectUpdate(BaseTask):
             'scm_full_checkout': True if project_update.job_type == 'run' else False,
             'scm_revision_output': self.revision_path,
             'scm_revision': project_update.project.scm_revision,
+            'roles_enabled': getattr(settings, 'AWX_ROLES_ENABLED', True)
         })
         extra_vars_path = self.build_extra_vars_file(vars=extra_vars, **kwargs)
         args.extend(['-e', '@%s' % (extra_vars_path)])
diff --git a/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml b/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
index cefbdef1bb..1dd94b38b5 100644
--- a/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
+++ b/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # scm_accept_hostkey: true/false (only for git, set automatically)
 # scm_revision: current revision in tower
 # scm_revision_output: where to store gathered revision (temporary file)
+# roles_enabled: Allow us to pull roles from a requirements.yml file
 
 - hosts: all
   connection: local
@@ -152,4 +153,4 @@
           chdir: "{{project_path|quote}}/roles"
         when: doesRequirementsExist.stat.exists and scm_result is defined
 
-      when: scm_full_checkout|bool
+      when: scm_full_checkout|bool and roles_enabled|bool
diff --git a/awx/settings/defaults.py b/awx/settings/defaults.py
index 978cbf05c0..56614bad81 100644
--- a/awx/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/awx/settings/defaults.py
@@ -649,6 +649,11 @@ AWX_REBUILD_SMART_MEMBERSHIP = False
 # By default, allow arbitrary Jinja templating in extra_vars defined on a Job Template
 ALLOW_JINJA_IN_EXTRA_VARS = 'template'
 
+# Enable dynamically pulling roles from a requirement.yml file
+# when updating SCM projects 
+# Note: This setting may be overridden by database settings.
+AWX_ROLES_ENABLED = True
+
 # Enable bubblewrap support for running jobs (playbook runs only).
 # Note: This setting may be overridden by database settings.
 AWX_PROOT_ENABLED = True
diff --git a/awx/settings/development.py b/awx/settings/development.py
index 0061157ec4..30cecdaa1d 100644
--- a/awx/settings/development.py
+++ b/awx/settings/development.py
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ CELERYD_LOG_COLOR = True
 
 CALLBACK_QUEUE = "callback_tasks"
 
+# Enable dynamically pulling roles from a requirement.yml file
+# when updating SCM projects
+# Note: This setting may be overridden by database settings.
+AWX_ROLES_ENABLED = True
+
 # Enable PROOT for tower-qa integration tests.
 # Note: This setting may be overridden by database settings.
 AWX_PROOT_ENABLED = True
diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/jobs-form/configuration-jobs.form.js b/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/jobs-form/configuration-jobs.form.js
index b945d44f44..e897a6ba4e 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/jobs-form/configuration-jobs.form.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/configuration/jobs-form/configuration-jobs.form.js
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ export default ['i18n', function(i18n) {
                 type: 'text',
                 reset: 'ANSIBLE_FACT_CACHE_TIMEOUT',
             },
+            AWX_ROLES_ENABLED: {
+                type: 'toggleSwitch',
+            },
             AWX_TASK_ENV: {
                 type: 'textarea',
                 reset: 'AWX_TASK_ENV',