diff --git a/flytekit/types/file/file.py b/flytekit/types/file/file.py
index 15113f8f01..567b29de57 100644
--- a/flytekit/types/file/file.py
+++ b/flytekit/types/file/file.py
@@ -440,6 +440,9 @@ def to_literal(
             # Set the remote destination if one was given instead of triggering a random one below
             remote_path = python_val.remote_path or None
 
+            if ctx.execution_state.is_local_execution and python_val.remote_path is None:
+                should_upload = False
+
         elif isinstance(python_val, pathlib.Path) or isinstance(python_val, str):
             source_path = str(python_val)
             if issubclass(python_type, FlyteFile):
@@ -455,6 +458,8 @@ def to_literal(
                         p = pathlib.Path(python_val)
                         if not p.is_file():
                             raise TypeTransformerFailedError(f"Error converting {python_val} because it's not a file.")
+                        if ctx.execution_state.is_local_execution:
+                            should_upload = False
             # python_type must be os.PathLike - see check at beginning of function
             else:
                 should_upload = False
diff --git a/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_flyte_file.py b/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_flyte_file.py
index ff038c164b..b1331adea7 100644
--- a/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_flyte_file.py
+++ b/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_flyte_file.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ def my_wf(fname: os.PathLike = SAMPLE_DATA) -> int:
     assert sample_lp.parameters.parameters["fname"].default.scalar.blob.uri == SAMPLE_DATA
 
 
-def test_file_handling_local_file_gets_copied():
+def test_file_handling_local_file_does_not_get_copied():
     @task
     def t1() -> FlyteFile:
         # Use this test file itself, since we know it exists.
@@ -223,12 +223,7 @@ def my_wf() -> FlyteFile:
         assert len(top_level_files) == 1  # the flytekit_local folder
 
         x = my_wf()
-
-        # After running, this test file should've been copied to the mock remote location.
-        mock_remote_files = os.listdir(os.path.join(random_dir, "mock_remote"))
-        assert len(mock_remote_files) == 1  # the file
-        # File should've been copied to the mock remote folder
-        assert x.path.startswith(random_dir)
+        assert x.path == __file__
 
 
 def test_file_handling_local_file_gets_force_no_copy():