diff --git a/eng/common/pipelines/templates/steps/sparse-checkout.yml b/eng/common/pipelines/templates/steps/sparse-checkout.yml
index cee1fbb2d..ab9545395 100644
--- a/eng/common/pipelines/templates/steps/sparse-checkout.yml
+++ b/eng/common/pipelines/templates/steps/sparse-checkout.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ steps:
                 git clone --no-checkout --filter=tree:0 https://github.com/$($repository.Name) .
               }
 
+              # Turn off git GC for sparse checkout. Note: The devops checkout task does this by default
+              Write-Host "git config gc.auto 0"
+              git config gc.auto 0
+
               Write-Host "git sparse-checkout init"
               git sparse-checkout init