diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
index 2ba2bff6fc..4e8261d42e 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class ValidateAnimatedReferenceRig(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
     label = "Animated Reference Rig"
     accepted_controllers = ["transform", "locator"]
     actions = [ayon_core.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
-    optional = False
+    optional = True
 
     def process(self, instance):
         if not self.is_active(instance.data):
diff --git a/server_addon/maya/server/settings/publishers.py b/server_addon/maya/server/settings/publishers.py
index 20523b2ca9..3e8dc704b7 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/server/settings/publishers.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/server/settings/publishers.py
@@ -1448,8 +1448,8 @@ DEFAULT_PUBLISH_SETTINGS = {
         "active": True
     },
     "ValidateAnimatedReferenceRig": {
-        "enabled": True,
-        "optional": False,
+        "enabled": False,
+        "optional": True,
         "active": True
     },
     "ValidateAnimationContent": {