diff --git a/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml b/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
index ceed86143930..140b56f21d50 100644
--- a/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
+++ b/build/ci/.azure-devops-project-template-tests.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ jobs:
       group_4:
         TestGroup: '4'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs:
@@ -78,6 +82,10 @@ jobs:
       group_4:
         TestGroup: '4'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs:
@@ -127,6 +135,10 @@ jobs:
       group_2:
         TestGroup: '2'
 
+  variables:
+    # don't validate transitive dependencies for template tests
+    NuGetAuditMode: direct
+
   steps:
   - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
     inputs: