diff --git a/build-and-deploy.sh b/build-and-deploy.sh
index bdc201be..6f05a98c 100755
--- a/build-and-deploy.sh
+++ b/build-and-deploy.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 KEEP_ARTIFACTS=""
+API_ONLY=""
 PRIMARY_NODE=""
 if [[ -n ${1} ]]; then
     for arg in ${@}; do
@@ -21,6 +22,10 @@ if [[ -n ${1} ]]; then
                 KEEP_ARTIFACTS="y"
                 shift
             ;;
+            -a|--api-only)
+                API_ONLY="y"
+                shift
+            ;;
             -p=*|--become-primary=*)
                 PRIMARY_NODE=$( awk -F'=' '{ print $NF }' <<<"${arg}" )
                 shift
@@ -75,6 +80,7 @@ for HOST in ${HOSTS[@]}; do
     ssh $HOST $SUDO systemctl restart pvcapid &>/dev/null
     sleep 2
     ssh $HOST $SUDO systemctl restart pvcworkerd &>/dev/null
+    if [[ -z ${API_ONLY} ]]; then
     sleep 2
     ssh $HOST $SUDO systemctl restart pvchealthd &>/dev/null
     sleep 2
@@ -85,6 +91,7 @@ for HOST in ${HOSTS[@]}; do
         sleep 5
         echo -n "."
     done
+    fi
     echo " done."
     if [[ -n ${PRIMARY_NODE} && ${PRIMARY_NODE} == ${HOST} ]]; then
         echo -n ">>> Setting node $HOST to primary coordinator state... "