diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-publish-docs-on-dispatch.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-publish-docs-on-dispatch.yml
index 1d6992e..18add04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-publish-docs-on-dispatch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-publish-docs-on-dispatch.yml
@@ -15,4 +15,8 @@ jobs:
       project: libdiffpy
       c_extension: true
       headless: false
+      # true: install the project with `python -m pip install -e . --no-deps`.
+      # false: skip project installation; still install dependencies and build docs.
+      # libdiffpy is a C++ library and does not need a Python package installed for docs.
+      install_project: false
       python_version: ${{ fromJSON(needs.get-python-version.outputs.latest_python_version) }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-github-on-tag.yml b/.github/workflows/release-github-on-tag.yml
index a75982e..604f78f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-github-on-tag.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-github-on-tag.yml
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@ jobs:
       project: libdiffpy
       c_extension: true
       headless: false
+      # true: install the project with `python -m pip install -e . --no-deps`.
+      # false: skip project installation; still install dependencies and build docs.
+      # libdiffpy is a C++ library and does not need a Python package installed for docs.
+      install_project: false
       python_version: 0