diff --git a/test/end-to-end-tests/install.sh b/test/end-to-end-tests/install.sh
index e1fed144ce..bb88785741 100755
--- a/test/end-to-end-tests/install.sh
+++ b/test/end-to-end-tests/install.sh
@@ -2,5 +2,7 @@
 # run with PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD=true sh install.sh if chrome is already installed
 set -e
 ./synapse/install.sh
-./riot/install.sh
+# both CI and local testing don't need a riot fetched from master,
+# so not installing this by default anymore
+# ./riot/install.sh
 yarn install