diff --git a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
index 6c00aaf92aa..6210b6bc474 100644
--- a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
+++ b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ branchProtectionRules:
   # Defaults to `false`
   requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
   # Require up to date branches
-  requiresStrictStatusChecks: true
+  requiresStrictStatusChecks: false
   # List of required status check contexts that must pass for commits to be accepted to matching branches.
   requiredStatusCheckContexts:
     - "Kokoro CI - Lint"