diff --git a/driver/config/provider_test.go b/driver/config/provider_test.go
index e5eadb24cf..8cb366e35a 100644
--- a/driver/config/provider_test.go
+++ b/driver/config/provider_test.go
@@ -205,7 +205,10 @@ func TestProviderCookieSameSiteMode(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestProviderValidates(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := t.Context()
-	c := newProvider(t, configx.WithConfigFiles("../../internal/.hydra.yaml"))
+	c := newProvider(t,
+		configx.WithConfigFiles("../../internal/.hydra.yaml"),
+		configx.DisableFileWatching(),
+	)
 
 	// log
 	assert.Equal(t, "debug", c.Source(ctx).String(KeyLogLevel))
diff --git a/oryx/configx/options.go b/oryx/configx/options.go
index 6a51797f0d..3de253b88f 100644
--- a/oryx/configx/options.go
+++ b/oryx/configx/options.go
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ func DisableEnvLoading() OptionModifier {
 	}
 }
 
+// DisableFileWatching loads configured files once without watching them for changes.
+func DisableFileWatching() OptionModifier {
+	return func(p *Provider) {
+		p.disableFileWatching = true
+	}
+}
+
 func WithValue(key string, value interface{}) OptionModifier {
 	return func(p *Provider) {
 		p.forcedValues = append(p.forcedValues, tuple{Key: key, Value: value})
diff --git a/oryx/configx/provider.go b/oryx/configx/provider.go
index 2580b312ce..5c3deff54a 100644
--- a/oryx/configx/provider.go
+++ b/oryx/configx/provider.go
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ type Provider struct {
 	baseValues   []tuple
 	files        []string
 
-	skipValidation    bool
-	disableEnvLoading bool
+	skipValidation      bool
+	disableEnvLoading   bool
+	disableFileWatching bool
 
 	logger *logrusx.Logger
 
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func (p *Provider) createProviders(ctx context.Context) (providers []koanf.Provi
 	c := make(watcherx.EventChannel)
 
 	defer func() {
-		if err == nil && len(paths) > 0 {
+		if err == nil && len(paths) > 0 && !p.disableFileWatching {
 			go p.watchForFileChanges(ctx, c)
 		}
 	}()
@@ -152,8 +153,10 @@ func (p *Provider) createProviders(ctx context.Context) (providers []koanf.Provi
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if _, err := fp.WatchChannel(ctx, c); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		if !p.disableFileWatching {
+			if _, err := fp.WatchChannel(ctx, c); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 		}
 
 		providers = append(providers, fp)