diff --git a/cellpainter/cellpainter/runtime.py b/cellpainter/cellpainter/runtime.py
index 5e8dba0..20fa92c 100644
--- a/cellpainter/cellpainter/runtime.py
+++ b/cellpainter/cellpainter/runtime.py
@@ -155,12 +155,16 @@ def handle_signal(signum: int, _frame: Any):
                     raise ValueError('Squid: cannot connect to squid, is squid web service running?')
 
             if 1:
+                class NikonDisabled:
+                    pass
                 try:
-                    self.nikon = Nikon.remote().nikon
+                    self.nikon = NikonDisabled() # type: ignore
+                    # self.nikon = Nikon.remote().nikon
                 except:
                     raise ValueError('Nikon: cannot connect to nikon')
                 try:
-                    self.nikon_stage = NikonPi.remote().nikon_stage
+                    self.nikon_stage = NikonDisabled() # type: ignore
+                    # self.nikon_stage = NikonPi.remote().nikon_stage
                 except:
                     raise ValueError('NikonPi: cannot connect to nikon stage')
 
diff --git a/deploy-labrobots.sh b/deploy-labrobots.sh
index 83e9e7c..e7faecb 100755
--- a/deploy-labrobots.sh
+++ b/deploy-labrobots.sh
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 set -x
 windows_nuc=$(python -c 'import labrobots; print(labrobots.WindowsNUC.ip)')
 windows_gbg=$(python -c 'import labrobots; print(labrobots.WindowsGBG.ip)')
-nikon=$(python -c 'import labrobots; print(labrobots.Nikon.ip)')
+# nikon=$(python -c 'import labrobots; print(labrobots.Nikon.ip)')
 
 ssh devserver "
     set -x;
     curl -s $windows_gbg:5050/git/pull_and_shutdown;
     curl -s $windows_nuc:5050/git/pull_and_shutdown;
-    curl -s $nikon:5050/git/pull_and_shutdown;
+    # curl -s $nikon:5050/git/pull_and_shutdown;
     curl -s $windows_gbg:5050/git/show;
     curl -s $windows_nuc:5050/git/show;
-    curl -s $nikon:5050/git/show;
+    # curl -s $nikon:5050/git/show;
 "