diff --git a/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py b/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
index c58d57e..50107f9 100644
--- a/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
+++ b/joj3_config_generator/models/task.py
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ class StageFiles(StrictBaseModel):
     import_map: Dict[str, str] = Field(
         {}, validation_alias=AliasChoices("import-map", "import_map")
     )
+    no_auto_import: List[str] = Field(
+        [], validation_alias=AliasChoices("no-auto-import", "no_auto_import")
+    )
 
 
 class Limit(StrictBaseModel):
diff --git a/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py b/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
index d30cda3..26adb53 100644
--- a/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
+++ b/joj3_config_generator/transformers/task.py
@@ -105,7 +105,11 @@ def get_executor_with(
             copy_in=copy_in,
             copy_in_dir="." if task_stage.copy_in_cwd else "",
             copy_out=copy_out_files,
-            copy_in_cached={file: file for file in cached},
+            copy_in_cached={
+                file: file
+                for file in cached
+                if file not in task_stage.files.no_auto_import
+            },
             copy_out_cached=file_export,
             cpu_limit=task_stage.limit.cpu,
             clock_limit=task_stage.limit.time,
diff --git a/tests/convert/full/task.toml b/tests/convert/full/task.toml
index 2a33dd5..553be99 100644
--- a/tests/convert/full/task.toml
+++ b/tests/convert/full/task.toml
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ files.import-map = { "tools/Makefile" = "h7/Makefile" }
 # files to export from the sandbox, relative to `/w`, will be imported to later
 # stages automatically
 files.export = [ "yes.txt" ]
+# files that should not be imported from the `export` field in previous stages
+files.no-auto-import = [ "yes.txt" ]
 # whether to copy all files from the current working directory from host (i.e. the whole repo)
 # you can set it as false if you are in the run stage of a compiled language, as the binary is all you need
 copy-in-cwd = true # default: true