diff --git a/windows-release/checkout.yml b/windows-release/checkout.yml
index 6a69fbef..b2aa190d 100644
--- a/windows-release/checkout.yml
+++ b/windows-release/checkout.yml
@@ -35,3 +35,13 @@ steps:
   ${{ if and(parameters.Path, ne(parameters.Path, '.')) }}:
     workingDirectory: ${{ parameters.Path }}
   condition: and(succeeded(), variables['SourceCommit'])
+
+- powershell: |
+    if (-not (Test-Path "Misc\externals.spdx.json")) {
+      "externals.spdx.json is missing - skipping SBOM"
+      Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=SkipSBOM]1"
+    }
+  displayName: 'Checking for SBOM inputs'
+  ${{ if and(parameters.Path, ne(parameters.Path, '.')) }}:
+    workingDirectory: ${{ parameters.Path }}
+  condition: and(succeeded(), not(variables['SkipSBOM']))
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
index bdd3b4e9..8910b533 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ jobs:
 
   - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
     displayName: 'Publish Artifact: sbom'
+    condition: and(succeeded(), not(variables['SkipSBOM']))
     inputs:
       PathtoPublish: $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)\sbom
       ArtifactName: sbom