diff --git a/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_endpoints.py
index ac487fb06d0..b7b63aef4e3 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_endpoints.py
@@ -2071,6 +2071,14 @@ async def test_custom_code_guardrail(
             detail="Admin access required to test custom code guardrails",
         )
 
+    if os.getenv("LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS", "").lower() != "true":
+        return TestCustomCodeGuardrailResponse(
+            success=False,
+            error="Custom code guardrails are disabled by default. "
+            "Set LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS=true to enable.",
+            error_type="compilation",
+        )
+
     EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 5
 
     try:
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/custom_code/custom_code_guardrail.py b/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/custom_code/custom_code_guardrail.py
index 58502e309ef..7486f18c4e4 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/custom_code/custom_code_guardrail.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/custom_code/custom_code_guardrail.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ Example: block when response rejects the user (input_type response only):
 """
 
 import asyncio
+import os
 import threading
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Literal, Optional, Type, cast
 
@@ -143,8 +144,17 @@ class CustomCodeGuardrail(CustomGuardrail):
         """Returns the config model for the UI."""
         return CustomCodeGuardrailConfigModel
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _require_custom_code_enabled() -> None:
+        if os.getenv("LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS", "").lower() != "true":
+            raise CustomCodeCompilationError(
+                "Custom code guardrails are disabled by default. "
+                "Set LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS=true to enable."
+            )
+
     def _do_compile(self) -> None:
         """Internal compilation method without lock. Expected to run inside _compile_lock."""
+        self._require_custom_code_enabled()
         exec_globals = build_sandbox_globals()
         compiled = compile_sandboxed(self.custom_code)
         exec(compiled, exec_globals)  # noqa: S102
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/test_response_rejection_guardrail_code.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/test_response_rejection_guardrail_code.py
index eeba2e49728..9ac1c883d4f 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/test_response_rejection_guardrail_code.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/guardrail_hooks/test_response_rejection_guardrail_code.py
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ from litellm.proxy.guardrails.guardrail_hooks.custom_code import (
 )
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def enable_custom_code_guardrails(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS", "true")
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def response_rejection_guardrail():
     """Guardrail instance using the response-rejection custom code."""
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_custom_code_security.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_custom_code_security.py
index 00cf3f317c9..d5177e1a1be 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_custom_code_security.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_custom_code_security.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import os
+
 import pytest
 
 from litellm.proxy.guardrails.guardrail_hooks.custom_code.custom_code_guardrail import (
@@ -6,6 +8,11 @@ from litellm.proxy.guardrails.guardrail_hooks.custom_code.custom_code_guardrail
 )
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def enable_custom_code_guardrails(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("LITELLM_ENABLE_CUSTOM_CODE_GUARDRAILS", "true")
+
+
 # str.mro() + generator gi_code + code.replace(co_names=...) + __setattr__
 # to swap a function's bytecode and read http_get's real builtins dict.
 BYTECODE_REWRITE_PAYLOAD = (