diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.spec.ts b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.spec.ts
index add73cf44a0076..e8f03bb6515a06 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.spec.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ describe('workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check', () => {
   const config = partial<RenovateConfig>({
     requireConfig: 'required',
     suppressNotifications: [],
+    onboarding: true,
   });
 
   it('skips normal onboarding check if onboardingCache is valid', async () => {
diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.ts b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.ts
index 25f7d21a229c54..3a3ec850809eb8 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/onboarding/branch/check.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export async function isOnboarded(config: RenovateConfig): Promise<boolean> {
   // if onboarding cache is present and base branch has not been updated branch is not onboarded
   // if closed pr exists then presence of onboarding cache doesn't matter as we need to skip onboarding
   if (
+    config.onboarding &&
     !pr &&
     onboardingBranchCache &&
     onboardingBranchCache.defaultBranchSha ===