diff --git a/roles/bodhi2/base/templates/production.ini.j2 b/roles/bodhi2/base/templates/production.ini.j2
index 31ced4b883..fe80155526 100644
--- a/roles/bodhi2/base/templates/production.ini.j2
+++ b/roles/bodhi2/base/templates/production.ini.j2
@@ -113,7 +113,9 @@ releng_fedmsg_certname = shell-bodhi-backend03.phx2.fedoraproject.org
 # will act as a masher as well.
 #masher = None
 
+{% if 'backend' in inventory_hostname %}
 mash_dir = /mnt/koji/compose/updates/
+{% endif %}
 mash_stage_dir = /mnt/koji/compose/updates/
 pungi.basepath = /etc/bodhi
 pungi.conf.rpm = pungi.rpm.conf.j2