diff --git a/docs/docs/reference/project-files/rill-yaml.md b/docs/docs/reference/project-files/rill-yaml.md
index 87758c0c139..8208bf78a6c 100644
--- a/docs/docs/reference/project-files/rill-yaml.md
+++ b/docs/docs/reference/project-files/rill-yaml.md
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ _[object]_ - A map of key-value pairs for setting variables on your project. It
 
   - **`rill.model.tests_warn_on_failure`** - _[boolean]_ - When true, model test failures are surfaced as non-blocking warnings instead of errors. Default: true in `prod`, false otherwise. 
 
+  - **`rill.models.disable`** - _[boolean]_ - When true, model execution is disabled. Useful for stopping any ingestion in Rill temporarily. Default: false. 
+
   - **`rill.metrics.approximate_comparisons`** - _[boolean]_ - Rewrite metrics comparison queries to use an approximate, faster form. Approximate comparisons may not return data points for all values. Default: true. 
 
   - **`rill.metrics.approximate_comparisons_cte`** - _[boolean]_ - Rewrite metrics comparison queries to use a CTE for the base query. Default: false. 
diff --git a/runtime/drivers/registry.go b/runtime/drivers/registry.go
index 6ffd7c27b3c..993ee9f023f 100644
--- a/runtime/drivers/registry.go
+++ b/runtime/drivers/registry.go
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ type InstanceConfig struct {
 	ModelPartitionsWarnOnFailure bool `mapstructure:"rill.model.partitions_warn_on_failure"`
 	// ModelTestsWarnOnFailure: when true, model test failures are surfaced as non-blocking warnings instead of errors.
 	ModelTestsWarnOnFailure bool `mapstructure:"rill.model.tests_warn_on_failure"`
+	// DisableModels: when true, model execution is disabled. Useful for stopping any ingestion in Rill temporarily.
+	DisableModels bool `mapstructure:"rill.models.disable"`
 }
 
 // ResolveOLAPConnector resolves the OLAP connector to default to for the instance.
diff --git a/runtime/parser/schema/rillyaml.schema.yaml b/runtime/parser/schema/rillyaml.schema.yaml
index 73c99642f3f..29d67f3fab8 100644
--- a/runtime/parser/schema/rillyaml.schema.yaml
+++ b/runtime/parser/schema/rillyaml.schema.yaml
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ allOf:
           rill.model.tests_warn_on_failure:
             type: boolean
             description: "When true, model test failures are surfaced as non-blocking warnings instead of errors. Default: true in `prod`, false otherwise."
+          rill.models.disable:
+            type: boolean
+            description: "When true, model execution is disabled. Useful for stopping any ingestion in Rill temporarily. Default: false."
           rill.metrics.approximate_comparisons:
             type: boolean
             description: "Rewrite metrics comparison queries to use an approximate, faster form. Approximate comparisons may not return data points for all values. Default: true."
diff --git a/runtime/reconcilers/model.go b/runtime/reconcilers/model.go
index fc09a0bee9c..d90d6bea8a0 100644
--- a/runtime/reconcilers/model.go
+++ b/runtime/reconcilers/model.go
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ func (r *ModelReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, n *runtimev1.ResourceNa
 		defer cancel()
 	}
 
+	if cfg.DisableModels { // Global disable
+		return runtime.ReconcileResult{Err: errors.New("model execution is paused")}
+	}
+
 	// Handle deletion
 	if self.Meta.DeletedOn != nil {
 		if prevManager != nil {