diff --git a/internal/tiltfile/api/__init__.py b/internal/tiltfile/api/__init__.py
index 032e5d32bd..a80c552175 100644
--- a/internal/tiltfile/api/__init__.py
+++ b/internal/tiltfile/api/__init__.py
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ def kustomize(pathToDir: str, kustomize_bin: str = None, flags: List[str] = [])
   """
   pass
 
-def helm(pathToChartDir: str, name: str = "", namespace: str = "", values: Union[str, List[str]]=[], set: Union[str, List[str]]=[], kube_version: str = "") -> Blob:
+def helm(pathToChartDir: str, name: str = "", namespace: str = "", values: Union[str, List[str]]=[], set: Union[str, List[str]]=[], kube_version: str = "", skip_crds: bool = False) -> Blob:
   """Run `helm template <https://docs.helm.sh/helm/#helm-template>`_ on a given directory that contains a chart and return the fully rendered YAML as a Blob
   Chart directory is watched (See ``watch_file``).
 
@@ -734,6 +734,7 @@ def helm(pathToChartDir: str, name: str = "", namespace: str = "", values: Union
     values: Specify one or more values files (in addition to the `values.yaml` file in the chart). Equivalent to the Helm ``--values`` or ``-f`` flags (`see docs <https://helm.sh/docs/chart_template_guide/#values-files>`_).
     set: Specify one or more values. Equivalent to the Helm ``--set`` flag.
     kube_version: Specify for which kubernetes version template will be generated. Equivalent to the Helm ``--kube-version`` flag.
+    skip_crds: If set, no CRDs will be installed. By default, CRDs are installed.
 """
   pass
 
diff --git a/internal/tiltfile/files.go b/internal/tiltfile/files.go
index 8d1caaa866..919c4fbd4d 100644
--- a/internal/tiltfile/files.go
+++ b/internal/tiltfile/files.go
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ func (s *tiltfileState) helm(thread *starlark.Thread, fn *starlark.Builtin, args
 	var valueFiles value.StringOrStringList
 	var set value.StringOrStringList
 	var kubeVersion string
+	var skip_crds bool
 
 	err := s.unpackArgs(fn.Name(), args, kwargs,
 		"paths", &path,
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ func (s *tiltfileState) helm(thread *starlark.Thread, fn *starlark.Builtin, args
 		"values?", &valueFiles,
 		"set?", &set,
 		"kube_version?", &kubeVersion,
+		"skip_crds?", &skip_crds,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -251,9 +253,7 @@ func (s *tiltfileState) helm(thread *starlark.Thread, fn *starlark.Builtin, args
 		name = "chart"
 	}
 
-	if version == helmV3_1andAbove {
-		cmd = []string{"helm", "template", name, localPath, "--include-crds"}
-	} else if version == helmV3_0 {
+	if version == helmV3_0 || version == helmV3_1andAbove {
 		cmd = []string{"helm", "template", name, localPath}
 	} else {
 		cmd = []string{"helm", "template", localPath, "--name", name}
@@ -267,6 +267,10 @@ func (s *tiltfileState) helm(thread *starlark.Thread, fn *starlark.Builtin, args
 		cmd = append(cmd, "--kube-version", kubeVersion)
 	}
 
+	if !skip_crds && version == helmV3_1andAbove {
+		cmd = append(cmd, "--include-crds")
+	}
+
 	for _, valueFile := range valueFiles.Values {
 		cmd = append(cmd, "--values", valueFile)
 		err := tiltfile_io.RecordReadPath(thread, tiltfile_io.WatchFileOnly, starkit.AbsPath(thread, valueFile))