diff --git a/selfdrive/locationd/lagd.py b/selfdrive/locationd/lagd.py
index a61793e223..e070c16b1c 100755
--- a/selfdrive/locationd/lagd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/locationd/lagd.py
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@ class LateralLagEstimator:
                block_count: int = BLOCK_NUM, min_valid_block_count: int = BLOCK_NUM_NEEDED, block_size: int = BLOCK_SIZE,
                window_sec: float = MOVING_WINDOW_SEC, okay_window_sec: float = MIN_OKAY_WINDOW_SEC, min_recovery_buffer_sec: float = MIN_RECOVERY_BUFFER_SEC,
                min_vego: float = MIN_VEGO, min_yr: float = MIN_ABS_YAW_RATE, min_ncc: float = MIN_NCC,
-               max_lat_accel: float = MAX_LAT_ACCEL, max_lat_accel_diff: float = MAX_LAT_ACCEL_DIFF, min_confidence: float = MIN_CONFIDENCE):
+               max_lat_accel: float = MAX_LAT_ACCEL, max_lat_accel_diff: float = MAX_LAT_ACCEL_DIFF, min_confidence: float = MIN_CONFIDENCE,
+               enabled: bool = True):
     self.dt = dt
     self.window_sec = window_sec
     self.okay_window_sec = okay_window_sec
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ class LateralLagEstimator:
     self.min_confidence = min_confidence
     self.max_lat_accel = max_lat_accel
     self.max_lat_accel_diff = max_lat_accel_diff
+    self.enabled = enabled
 
     self.t = 0.0
     self.lat_active = False
@@ -206,7 +208,7 @@ class LateralLagEstimator:
     liveDelay = msg.liveDelay
 
     valid_mean_lag, valid_std, current_mean_lag, current_std = self.block_avg.get()
-    if self.block_avg.valid_blocks >= self.min_valid_block_count and not np.isnan(valid_mean_lag) and not np.isnan(valid_std):
+    if self.enabled and self.block_avg.valid_blocks >= self.min_valid_block_count and not np.isnan(valid_mean_lag) and not np.isnan(valid_std):
       if valid_std > MAX_LAG_STD:
         liveDelay.status = log.LiveDelayData.Status.invalid
       else:
@@ -367,7 +369,10 @@ def main():
   params = Params()
   CP = messaging.log_from_bytes(params.get("CarParams", block=True), car.CarParams)
 
-  lag_learner = LateralLagEstimator(CP, 1. / SERVICE_LIST['livePose'].frequency)
+  # TODO: remove me, lagd is in shadow mode on release
+  is_release = params.get_bool("IsReleaseBranch")
+
+  lag_learner = LateralLagEstimator(CP, 1. / SERVICE_LIST['livePose'].frequency, enabled=not is_release)
   if (initial_lag_params := retrieve_initial_lag(params, CP)) is not None:
     lag, valid_blocks = initial_lag_params
     lag_learner.reset(lag, valid_blocks)
diff --git a/selfdrive/locationd/test/test_lagd.py b/selfdrive/locationd/test/test_lagd.py
index aad8cff229..a7f9c75ab4 100644
--- a/selfdrive/locationd/test/test_lagd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/locationd/test/test_lagd.py
@@ -108,6 +108,18 @@ class TestLagd:
         assert np.allclose(msg.liveDelay.lateralDelayEstimateStd, 0.0, atol=0.01)
         assert msg.liveDelay.validBlocks == BLOCK_NUM_NEEDED
 
+  def test_disabled_estimator(self):
+    mocked_CP = car.CarParams(steerActuatorDelay=0.8)
+    estimator = LateralLagEstimator(mocked_CP, DT, min_recovery_buffer_sec=0.0, min_yr=0.0, enabled=False)
+    lag_frames = 5
+    process_messages(estimator, lag_frames, int(MIN_OKAY_WINDOW_SEC / DT) + BLOCK_NUM_NEEDED * BLOCK_SIZE)
+    msg = estimator.get_msg(True)
+    assert msg.liveDelay.status == 'unestimated'
+    assert np.allclose(msg.liveDelay.lateralDelay, 1.0, atol=0.01)
+    assert np.allclose(msg.liveDelay.lateralDelayEstimate, lag_frames * DT, atol=0.01)
+    assert np.allclose(msg.liveDelay.lateralDelayEstimateStd, 0.0, atol=0.01)
+    assert msg.liveDelay.validBlocks == BLOCK_NUM_NEEDED
+
   def test_estimator_masking(self):
     mocked_CP, lag_frames = car.CarParams(steerActuatorDelay=0.8), random.randint(1, 19)
     estimator = LateralLagEstimator(mocked_CP, DT, min_recovery_buffer_sec=0.0, min_yr=0.0, min_valid_block_count=1)