diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES.md b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
index 709f151e4..5b7c5cd72 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ END TEMPLATE-->
 * `RobustSerializer` no longer needs to be called from threads with an active IoC context.
   * This makes it possible to use from thread pool threads without `IoCManager.InitThread`.
 * Removed finalizer dispose from `Overlay`.
+* Stopped integration tests watching for prototype reload file changes, speeding stuff up.
 
 ### Internal
 
diff --git a/Robust.Client/Prototypes/ClientPrototypeManager.cs b/Robust.Client/Prototypes/ClientPrototypeManager.cs
index 76bfb1642..74fd04bdd 100644
--- a/Robust.Client/Prototypes/ClientPrototypeManager.cs
+++ b/Robust.Client/Prototypes/ClientPrototypeManager.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using Robust.Client.Graphics;
 using Robust.Client.Timing;
+using Robust.Shared;
+using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
 using Robust.Shared.ContentPack;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Prototypes
         [Dependency] private readonly IClyde _clyde = default!;
         [Dependency] private readonly INetManager _netManager = default!;
         [Dependency] private readonly IClientGameTiming _timing = default!;
+        [Dependency] private readonly IConfigurationManager _cfg = default!;
 
         private readonly List<FileSystemWatcher> _watchers = new();
         private readonly TimeSpan _reloadDelay = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(10);
@@ -77,6 +80,9 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Prototypes
 
         private void WatchResources()
         {
+            if (!_cfg.GetCVar(CVars.ResPrototypeReloadWatch))
+                return;
+
 #if !FULL_RELEASE
             foreach (var path in Resources.GetContentRoots().Select(r => r.ToString())
                 .Where(r => Directory.Exists(r + "/Prototypes")).Select(p => p + "/Prototypes"))
diff --git a/Robust.Shared/CVars.cs b/Robust.Shared/CVars.cs
index a67ac6801..3dd4b9c0c 100644
--- a/Robust.Shared/CVars.cs
+++ b/Robust.Shared/CVars.cs
@@ -1214,6 +1214,15 @@ namespace Robust.Shared
         public static readonly CVarDef<int> ResStreamSeekMode =
             CVarDef.Create("res.stream_seek_mode", (int)ContentPack.StreamSeekMode.None);
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether to watch prototype files for prototype reload on the client. Only applies to development builds.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>
+        /// The client sends a reload signal to the server on refocus, if you're wondering why this is client-only.
+        /// </remarks>
+        public static readonly CVarDef<bool> ResPrototypeReloadWatch =
+            CVarDef.Create("res.prototype_reload_watch", true, CVar.CLIENTONLY);
+
         /*
          * DEBUG
          */
diff --git a/Robust.UnitTesting/RobustIntegrationTest.cs b/Robust.UnitTesting/RobustIntegrationTest.cs
index 9d9d4dbe1..59bfc4821 100644
--- a/Robust.UnitTesting/RobustIntegrationTest.cs
+++ b/Robust.UnitTesting/RobustIntegrationTest.cs
@@ -820,7 +820,9 @@ namespace Robust.UnitTesting
 
                     (CVars.SysGCCollectStart.Name, "false"),
 
-                    (RTCVars.FailureLogLevel.Name, (Options?.FailureLogLevel ?? RTCVars.FailureLogLevel.DefaultValue).ToString())
+                    (RTCVars.FailureLogLevel.Name, (Options?.FailureLogLevel ?? RTCVars.FailureLogLevel.DefaultValue).ToString()),
+
+                    (CVars.ResPrototypeReloadWatch.Name, "false"),
                 });
 
                 GameLoop = new IntegrationGameLoop(DependencyCollection.Resolve<IGameTiming>(),