diff --git a/pkg/loft/client/client.go b/pkg/loft/client/client.go
index fd8bebaf5..94b05b85d 100644
--- a/pkg/loft/client/client.go
+++ b/pkg/loft/client/client.go
@@ -354,10 +354,12 @@ func (c *client) LoginWithAccessKey(host, accessKey string, insecure bool) error
 	c.config.Insecure = insecure
 	c.config.AccessKey = accessKey
 
-	// verify version
-	err = VerifyVersion(c)
-	if err != nil {
-		return perrors.Wrap(err, "verify version")
+	if os.GetEnv("DEVPOD_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK") != "true" {
+		// verify version
+		err = VerifyVersion(c)
+		if err != nil {
+			return perrors.Wrap(err, "verify version")
+		}
 	}
 
 	// verify the connection works