diff --git a/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml b/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
index d44825c2442c..53bbf5cf2c93 100644
--- a/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
+++ b/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ jobs:
       group_4:
         TestGroup: '4'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs:
@@ -76,6 +80,10 @@ jobs:
       group_4:
         TestGroup: '4'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs:
@@ -128,6 +136,10 @@ jobs:
       group_3:
         TestGroup: '3'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs: