diff --git a/worker/worker.go b/worker/worker.go
index 07e4f29c..48b55235 100644
--- a/worker/worker.go
+++ b/worker/worker.go
@@ -40,22 +40,24 @@ func (sb EnvValue) String() string {
 type OptimizationFlags map[string]EnvValue
 
 type Worker struct {
-	manager *DockerManager
+	manager             *DockerManager
+	noManagedContainers bool
 
 	externalContainers map[string]*RunnerContainer
 	mu                 *sync.Mutex
 }
 
-func NewWorker(containerImageID string, gpus []string, modelDir string) (*Worker, error) {
+func NewWorker(containerImageID string, gpus []string, modelDir string, noManagedContainers bool) (*Worker, error) {
 	manager, err := NewDockerManager(containerImageID, gpus, modelDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return &Worker{
-		manager:            manager,
-		externalContainers: make(map[string]*RunnerContainer),
-		mu:                 &sync.Mutex{},
+		manager:             manager,
+		noManagedContainers: noManagedContainers,
+		externalContainers:  make(map[string]*RunnerContainer),
+		mu:                  &sync.Mutex{},
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -329,6 +331,10 @@ func (w *Worker) borrowContainer(ctx context.Context, pipeline, modelID string)
 
 	w.mu.Unlock()
 
+	if w.noManagedContainers {
+		return nil, errors.New("no runners available")
+	}
+
 	return w.manager.Borrow(ctx, pipeline, modelID)
 }