diff --git a/qa/build.gradle b/qa/build.gradle
index 59b6205a2..3da5ce26f 100644
--- a/qa/build.gradle
+++ b/qa/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ subprojects {
     // a local repo if we're currently in the release manager (unlikely, but be future proof).
     buildscript {
         boolean localRepo = project.getProperties().containsKey("localRepo")
-        localRepo = false // TODO: Remove this once we can safely depend on build-tools again.
         repositories {
             jcenter()
             mavenCentral()
@@ -44,11 +43,12 @@ subprojects {
             }
         }
         dependencies {
-            if (localRepo) {
-                classpath name: "build-tools-${version}"
-            } else {
+            //// TODO: Uncomment this once we can safely depend on build-tools again.
+//            if (localRepo) {
+//                classpath name: "build-tools-${version}"
+//            } else {
                 classpath group: 'org.elasticsearch.gradle', name: 'build-tools', version: project.ext.buildToolsVersion
-            }
+//            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/qa/kerberos/build.gradle b/qa/kerberos/build.gradle
index 5ff82365b..6158fff37 100644
--- a/qa/kerberos/build.gradle
+++ b/qa/kerberos/build.gradle
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ configurations {
 }
 
 boolean localRepo = project.getProperties().containsKey("localRepo")
-localRepo = false // TODO: Remove this once we can safely depend on build-tools again.
 
 dependencies {
     compile project(":elasticsearch-hadoop-mr")