diff --git a/kerchunk/combine.py b/kerchunk/combine.py
index 6dc71be..eb891de 100644
--- a/kerchunk/combine.py
+++ b/kerchunk/combine.py
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ class MultiZarrToZarr:
         from scratch. Assumes the same coordinates are being concatenated.
     """
 
+    inline: int
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         path,
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ def __init__(
         target_options=None,
         remote_protocol=None,
         remote_options=None,
-        inline_threshold=500,
+        inline_threshold: int = 500,
         preprocess=None,
         postprocess=None,
         out=None,
@@ -584,9 +586,13 @@ def second_pass(self):
                     key = key.rstrip(".")
 
                     ref = fs.references.get(fn)
-                    if isinstance(ref, list) and (
-                        (len(ref) > 1 and ref[2] < self.inline)
-                        or fs.info(fn)["size"] < self.inline
+                    if (
+                        self.inline > 0
+                        and isinstance(ref, list)
+                        and (
+                            (len(ref) > 1 and ref[2] < self.inline)
+                            or fs.info(fn)["size"] < self.inline
+                        )
                     ):
                         to_download[key] = fn
                     else:
diff --git a/kerchunk/tests/test_combine.py b/kerchunk/tests/test_combine.py
index efd7e05..1399492 100644
--- a/kerchunk/tests/test_combine.py
+++ b/kerchunk/tests/test_combine.py
@@ -768,6 +768,29 @@ def test_inline(refs):
     assert ref.references["data/0.0.0"].startswith("base64:")
 
 
+def test_no_inline(refs):
+    """Ensure that inline_threshold=0 disables MultiZarrToZarr checking file size."""
+    ds = xr.Dataset(dict(x=[1, 2, 3]))
+    ds["y"] = 3 + ds["x"]
+    store = fsspec.get_mapper("memory://zarr_store")
+    ds.to_zarr(store, mode="w", consolidated=False)
+    ref = kerchunk.utils.consolidate(store)
+    # This type of reference with no offset or total size is produced by
+    # kerchunk.zarr.single_zarr or equivalently ZarrToZarr.translate.
+    ref["refs"]["y/0"] = ["file:///tmp/some/data-that-shouldnt-be-accessed"]
+
+    mzz_no_inline = MultiZarrToZarr([ref], concat_dims=["x"], inline_threshold=0)
+    # Should be okay because inline_threshold=None so we don't check the file size
+    # in order to see if it should be inlined
+    mzz_no_inline.translate()
+
+    mzz_inline = MultiZarrToZarr([ref], concat_dims=["x"], inline_threshold=1)
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+        # Should raise because we check the file size to see if it should be inlined,
+        # and the example was engineered so that the file doesn't exist.
+        mzz_inline.translate()
+
+
 def test_merge_vars():
     a = dict({"version": 1, "refs": dict({"item1": 1})})
     b = dict({"version": 1, "refs": dict({"item2": 2})})