diff --git a/ietf/sync/rfceditor.py b/ietf/sync/rfceditor.py
index 8ae135413..d3371ea36 100644
--- a/ietf/sync/rfceditor.py
+++ b/ietf/sync/rfceditor.py
@@ -802,6 +802,10 @@ def post_approved_draft(url, name):
     the data from the Datatracker and start processing it. Returns
     response and error (empty string if no error)."""
 
+    if settings.SERVER_MODE != "production":
+        log(f"In production, would have posted RFC-Editor notification of approved I-D '{name}' to '{url}'")
+        return "", ""
+
     # HTTP basic auth
     username = "dtracksync"
     password = settings.RFC_EDITOR_SYNC_PASSWORD
diff --git a/ietf/sync/tests.py b/ietf/sync/tests.py
index fec353a97..d59b31a95 100644
--- a/ietf/sync/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/sync/tests.py
@@ -597,6 +597,29 @@ class RFCSyncTests(TestCase):
         auth48_docurl = draft.documenturl_set.filter(tag_id='auth48').first()
         self.assertIsNone(auth48_docurl)
 
+    def test_post_approved_draft_in_production_only(self):
+        self.requests_mock.post("https://rfceditor.example.com/", status_code=200, text="OK")
+
+        # be careful playing with SERVER_MODE!
+        with override_settings(SERVER_MODE="test"):
+            self.assertEqual(
+                rfceditor.post_approved_draft("https://rfceditor.example.com/", "some-draft"),
+                ("", "")
+            )
+            self.assertFalse(self.requests_mock.called)
+        with override_settings(SERVER_MODE="development"):
+            self.assertEqual(
+                rfceditor.post_approved_draft("https://rfceditor.example.com/", "some-draft"),
+                ("", "")
+            )
+            self.assertFalse(self.requests_mock.called)
+        with override_settings(SERVER_MODE="production"):
+            self.assertEqual(
+                rfceditor.post_approved_draft("https://rfceditor.example.com/", "some-draft"),
+                ("", "")
+            )
+            self.assertTrue(self.requests_mock.called)
+
 
 class DiscrepanciesTests(TestCase):
     def test_discrepancies(self):
@@ -636,6 +659,7 @@ class DiscrepanciesTests(TestCase):
         r = self.client.get(urlreverse("ietf.sync.views.discrepancies"))
         self.assertContains(r, doc.name)
 
+
 class RFCEditorUndoTests(TestCase):
     def test_rfceditor_undo(self):
         draft = WgDraftFactory()