diff --git a/k8s/settings_local.py b/k8s/settings_local.py
index 84a76eb12..3735fc4fe 100644
--- a/k8s/settings_local.py
+++ b/k8s/settings_local.py
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ STATS_REGISTRATION_ATTENDEES_JSON_URL = f"https://registration.ietf.org/{{number
 MEETING_MATERIALS_SUBMISSION_CUTOFF_DAYS = 26
 MEETING_MATERIALS_SUBMISSION_CORRECTION_DAYS = 54
 
-HTPASSWD_COMMAND = "/usr/bin/htpasswd2"
+# disable htpasswd by setting to a do-nothing command
+HTPASSWD_COMMAND = "/bin/true"
 
 _MEETECHO_CLIENT_ID = os.environ.get("DATATRACKER_MEETECHO_CLIENT_ID", None)
 _MEETECHO_CLIENT_SECRET = os.environ.get("DATATRACKER_MEETECHO_CLIENT_SECRET", None)