diff --git a/conda_build/metadata.py b/conda_build/metadata.py
index c254329d28..071036bd0c 100644
--- a/conda_build/metadata.py
+++ b/conda_build/metadata.py
@@ -1338,6 +1338,10 @@ def parse_until_resolved(
         )
         self.final = final
 
+        if self.skip():
+            self.final = True
+            return
+
         # recursively parse again so long as each iteration has fewer undefined jinja variables
         undefined_jinja_vars = ()
         while set(undefined_jinja_vars) != set(self.undefined_jinja_vars):
diff --git a/news/5458-avoid-undefined-jinja-in-skipped b/news/5458-avoid-undefined-jinja-in-skipped
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e1c232a65e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/5458-avoid-undefined-jinja-in-skipped
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Allow undefined jinja variables when a particular metadata block evaluates as skipped. (#5458)
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/tests/test_metadata.py b/tests/test_metadata.py
index b8dc9df8e4..99b26dd424 100644
--- a/tests/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/test_metadata.py
@@ -623,3 +623,27 @@ def test_parse_until_resolved(testing_metadata: MetaData, tmp_path: Path) -> Non
         match=("Failed to render jinja template"),
     ):
         testing_metadata.parse_until_resolved()
+
+
+def test_parse_until_resolved_skip_avoids_undefined_jinja(
+    testing_metadata: MetaData, tmp_path: Path
+) -> None:
+    (recipe := tmp_path / (name := "meta.yaml")).write_text(
+        """
+package:
+    name: dummy
+    version: {{version}}
+build:
+    skip: True
+"""
+    )
+    testing_metadata._meta_path = recipe
+    testing_metadata._meta_name = name
+
+    # because skip is True, we should not error out here - so no exception should be raised
+    try:
+        testing_metadata.parse_until_resolved()
+    except CondaBuildUserError:
+        pytest.fail(
+            "Undefined variable caused error, even though this build is skipped"
+        )