diff --git a/rpc/src/rpc.rs b/rpc/src/rpc.rs
index 0cd32ab3ff84b1..05bd4caa8d6088 100644
--- a/rpc/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/rpc.rs
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ pub struct JsonRpcConfig {
     pub enable_extended_tx_metadata_storage: bool,
     pub faucet_addr: Option<SocketAddr>,
     pub health_check_slot_distance: u64,
+    pub skip_preflight_health_check: bool,
     pub rpc_bigtable_config: Option<RpcBigtableConfig>,
     pub max_multiple_accounts: Option<usize>,
     pub account_indexes: AccountSecondaryIndexes,
@@ -3695,21 +3696,23 @@ pub mod rpc_full {
             if !skip_preflight {
                 verify_transaction(&transaction, &preflight_bank.feature_set)?;
 
-                match meta.health.check() {
-                    RpcHealthStatus::Ok => (),
-                    RpcHealthStatus::Unknown => {
-                        inc_new_counter_info!("rpc-send-tx_health-unknown", 1);
-                        return Err(RpcCustomError::NodeUnhealthy {
-                            num_slots_behind: None,
+                if !meta.config.skip_preflight_health_check {
+                    match meta.health.check() {
+                        RpcHealthStatus::Ok => (),
+                        RpcHealthStatus::Unknown => {
+                            inc_new_counter_info!("rpc-send-tx_health-unknown", 1);
+                            return Err(RpcCustomError::NodeUnhealthy {
+                                num_slots_behind: None,
+                            }
+                            .into());
                         }
-                        .into());
-                    }
-                    RpcHealthStatus::Behind { num_slots } => {
-                        inc_new_counter_info!("rpc-send-tx_health-behind", 1);
-                        return Err(RpcCustomError::NodeUnhealthy {
-                            num_slots_behind: Some(num_slots),
+                        RpcHealthStatus::Behind { num_slots } => {
+                            inc_new_counter_info!("rpc-send-tx_health-behind", 1);
+                            return Err(RpcCustomError::NodeUnhealthy {
+                                num_slots_behind: Some(num_slots),
+                            }
+                            .into());
                         }
-                        .into());
                     }
                 }
 
diff --git a/validator/src/cli.rs b/validator/src/cli.rs
index 9ebef5a0527db7..60cdc3044748f6 100644
--- a/validator/src/cli.rs
+++ b/validator/src/cli.rs
@@ -286,6 +286,14 @@ pub fn app<'a>(version: &'a str, default_args: &'a DefaultArgs) -> App<'a, 'a> {
                      latest optimistically confirmed slot",
                 ),
         )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("skip_preflight_health_check")
+                .long("skip-preflight-health-check")
+                .takes_value(false)
+                .help(
+                    "Skip health check when running a preflight check",
+                ),
+        )
         .arg(
             Arg::with_name("rpc_faucet_addr")
                 .long("rpc-faucet-address")
diff --git a/validator/src/main.rs b/validator/src/main.rs
index fd98392fc1766d..b2fb6a7ac275b9 100644
--- a/validator/src/main.rs
+++ b/validator/src/main.rs
@@ -1422,6 +1422,7 @@ pub fn main() {
                 "rpc_max_request_body_size",
                 usize
             )),
+            skip_preflight_health_check: matches.is_present("skip_preflight_health_check"),
         },
         on_start_geyser_plugin_config_files,
         rpc_addrs: value_t!(matches, "rpc_port", u16).ok().map(|rpc_port| {