diff --git a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/GerritServer.java b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/GerritServer.java
index a9ce827843..de707964b1 100644
--- a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/GerritServer.java
+++ b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/GerritServer.java
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ class GerritServer {
     File tmp = TempFileUtil.createTempDirectory();
     Init init = new Init();
     int rc = init.main(new String[] {
-        "-d", tmp.getPath(), "--batch", "--no-auto-start"});
+        "-d", tmp.getPath(), "--batch", "--no-auto-start",
+        "--skip-plugins"});
     if (rc != 0) {
       throw new RuntimeException("Couldn't initialize site");
     }
diff --git a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/Init.java b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/Init.java
index 0f0b2088ac..ae1ab71b40 100644
--- a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/Init.java
+++ b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/Init.java
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ public class Init extends SiteProgram {
   @Option(name = "--no-auto-start", usage = "Don't automatically start daemon after init")
   private boolean noAutoStart;
 
+  @Option(name = "--skip-plugins", usage = "Don't install plugin")
+  private boolean skipPlugins = false;
+
   @Option(name = "--list-plugins", usage = "List available plugins")
   private boolean listPlugins;
 
@@ -90,22 +93,25 @@ public class Init extends SiteProgram {
     ErrorLogFile.errorOnlyConsole();
 
     final SiteInit init = createSiteInit();
-    final List<PluginData> plugins = InitPlugins.listPlugins(init.site);
-    ConsoleUI ui = ConsoleUI.getInstance(false);
-    verifyInstallPluginList(ui, plugins);
-    if (listPlugins) {
-      if (!plugins.isEmpty()) {
-        ui.message("Available plugins:\n");
-        for (PluginData plugin : plugins) {
-          ui.message(" * %s version %s\n", plugin.name, plugin.version);
+    if (!skipPlugins) {
+      final List<PluginData> plugins = InitPlugins.listPlugins(init.site);
+      ConsoleUI ui = ConsoleUI.getInstance(false);
+      verifyInstallPluginList(ui, plugins);
+      if (listPlugins) {
+        if (!plugins.isEmpty()) {
+          ui.message("Available plugins:\n");
+          for (PluginData plugin : plugins) {
+            ui.message(" * %s version %s\n", plugin.name, plugin.version);
+          }
+        } else {
+          ui.message("No plugins found.\n");
         }
-      } else {
-        ui.message("No plugins found.\n");
+        return 0;
       }
-      return 0;
     }
 
     init.flags.autoStart = !noAutoStart && init.site.isNew;
+    init.flags.skipPlugins = skipPlugins;
 
     final SiteRun run;
     try {
diff --git a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitFlags.java b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitFlags.java
index adbb03ab19..267b41a147 100644
--- a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitFlags.java
+++ b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitFlags.java
@@ -34,10 +34,14 @@ public class InitFlags {
   /** Run the daemon (and open the web UI in a browser) after initialization. */
   public boolean autoStart;
 
+  /** Skip plugins */
+  public boolean skipPlugins;
+
   public final FileBasedConfig cfg;
   public final FileBasedConfig sec;
   public final List<String> installPlugins;
 
+
   @Inject
   InitFlags(final SitePaths site,
       final @InstallPlugins List<String> installPlugins) throws IOException,
diff --git a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
index e71f3d17e0..1c2d024558 100644
--- a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
+++ b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ public class SitePathInitializer {
     mkdir(site.data_dir);
 
     for (InitStep step : steps) {
+      if (step instanceof InitPlugins
+          && flags.skipPlugins) {
+        continue;
+      }
       step.run();
     }