diff --git a/apps/terminal/api/applet/host.py b/apps/terminal/api/applet/host.py
index a2016255a..69ed5e0da 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/api/applet/host.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/api/applet/host.py
@@ -59,15 +59,18 @@ class AppletHostDeploymentViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
     )
 
     @staticmethod
-    def start_deploy(instance):
-        task = run_applet_host_deployment.apply_async((instance.id,), task_id=str(instance.id))
+    def start_deploy(instance, install_applets):
+        task = run_applet_host_deployment.apply_async((instance.id, install_applets,),
+                                                      task_id=str(instance.id))
 
     def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         serializer = self.get_serializer(data=request.data)
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
+        validated_data = serializer.validated_data
+        install_applets = validated_data.pop('install_applets', True)
         instance = serializer.save()
         instance.save_task(instance.id)
-        transaction.on_commit(lambda: self.start_deploy(instance))
+        transaction.on_commit(lambda: self.start_deploy(instance, install_applets))
         return Response({'task': str(instance.id)}, status=201)
 
     @action(methods=['post'], detail=False)
diff --git a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
index c8e4d9e27..d1d76870e 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ CURRENT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 
 
 class DeployAppletHostManager:
-    def __init__(self, deployment: AppletHostDeployment, applet: Applet = None):
+    def __init__(self, deployment: AppletHostDeployment, applet: Applet = None,
+                 install_applets: bool = True, **kwargs):
         self.deployment = deployment
         self.applet = applet
         self.run_dir = self.get_run_dir()
+        self.install_applets = bool(install_applets)
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_run_dir():
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ class DeployAppletHostManager:
                 play["vars"]["BOOTSTRAP_TOKEN"] = bootstrap_token
                 play["vars"]["HOST_ID"] = host_id
                 play["vars"]["HOST_NAME"] = hostname
+                play["vars"]["INSTALL_APPLETS"] = self.install_applets
             return plays
 
         return self._generate_playbook("playbook.yml", handler)
diff --git a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/playbook.yml b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/playbook.yml
index 45289cd30..c517c9f2c 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/playbook.yml
+++ b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/playbook.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     RDS_MaxDisconnectionTime: 60000
     RDS_RemoteAppLogoffTimeLimit: 0
     TinkerInstaller: Tinker_Installer.exe
+    INSTALL_APPLETS: true
 
   tasks:
     - name: Install RDS-RD-Server (RDS)
@@ -273,3 +274,4 @@
       ansible.windows.win_powershell:
         script: |
           tinkerd install all
+      when: INSTALL_APPLETS
diff --git a/apps/terminal/models/applet/host.py b/apps/terminal/models/applet/host.py
index 118cb05a9..0a1eab0f5 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/models/applet/host.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/models/applet/host.py
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ class AppletHostDeployment(JMSBaseModel):
             self.host.save()
             terminal.delete()
         from ...automations.deploy_applet_host import DeployAppletHostManager
-        manager = DeployAppletHostManager(self)
-        manager.run(**kwargs)
+        manager = DeployAppletHostManager(self, **kwargs)
+        manager.run()
 
     def install_applet(self, applet_id, **kwargs):
         from ...automations.deploy_applet_host import DeployAppletHostManager
diff --git a/apps/terminal/serializers/applet_host.py b/apps/terminal/serializers/applet_host.py
index 146cfd3bc..1e2b0bd16 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/serializers/applet_host.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/serializers/applet_host.py
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ class HostAppletSerializer(AppletSerializer):
 
 class AppletHostDeploymentSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     status = LabeledChoiceField(choices=Status.choices, label=_('Status'), default=Status.pending)
+    install_applets = serializers.BooleanField(default=True, label=_('Install applets'), write_only=True)
 
     class Meta:
         model = AppletHostDeployment
@@ -142,7 +143,8 @@ class AppletHostDeploymentSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             'status', 'date_created', 'date_updated',
             'date_start', 'date_finished'
         ]
-        fields = fields_mini + ['comment'] + read_only_fields
+        write_only_fields = ['install_applets',]
+        fields = fields_mini + ['comment'] + read_only_fields + write_only_fields
 
 
 class AppletHostAccountSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
diff --git a/apps/terminal/tasks.py b/apps/terminal/tasks.py
index 38ca1941a..71bb2aba7 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/tasks.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/tasks.py
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ def upload_session_replay_to_external_storage(session_id):
     verbose_name=_('Run applet host deployment'),
     activity_callback=lambda self, did, *args, **kwargs: ([did],)
 )
-def run_applet_host_deployment(did):
+def run_applet_host_deployment(did, install_applets):
     with tmp_to_builtin_org(system=1):
         deployment = AppletHostDeployment.objects.get(id=did)
-        deployment.start()
+        deployment.start(install_applets=install_applets)
 
 
 @shared_task(