diff --git a/python/lsst/ap/association/diaPipe.py b/python/lsst/ap/association/diaPipe.py
index 10f29077..5df40fc1 100644
--- a/python/lsst/ap/association/diaPipe.py
+++ b/python/lsst/ap/association/diaPipe.py
@@ -244,6 +244,12 @@ class DiaPipelineConfig(pipeBase.PipelineTaskConfig,
         target=DiaObjectCalculationTask,
         doc="Task to compute summary statistics for DiaObjects.",
     )
+    doLoadForcedSources = pexConfig.Field(
+        dtype=bool,
+        default=True,
+        doc="Load forced DiaSource history from the APDB?"
+            "This should only be turned off for debugging purposes.",
+    )
     diaForcedSource = pexConfig.ConfigurableField(
         target=DiaForcedSourceTask,
         doc="Task used for force photometer DiaObject locations in direct and "
@@ -370,7 +376,8 @@ def run(self,
               DiaSources. (`pandas.DataFrame`)
         """
         # Load the DiaObjects and DiaSource history.
-        loaderResult = self.diaCatalogLoader.run(diffIm, self.apdb)
+        loaderResult = self.diaCatalogLoader.run(diffIm, self.apdb,
+                                                 doLoadForcedSources=self.config.doLoadForcedSources)
         if len(loaderResult.diaObjects) > 0:
             diaObjects = self.purgeDiaObjects(diffIm.getBBox(), diffIm.getWcs(), loaderResult.diaObjects,
                                               buffer=self.config.imagePixelMargin)
diff --git a/python/lsst/ap/association/loadDiaCatalogs.py b/python/lsst/ap/association/loadDiaCatalogs.py
index 60dbb32a..a2a032b7 100644
--- a/python/lsst/ap/association/loadDiaCatalogs.py
+++ b/python/lsst/ap/association/loadDiaCatalogs.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         pipeBase.Task.__init__(self, **kwargs)
 
     @timeMethod
-    def run(self, exposure, apdb):
+    def run(self, exposure, apdb, doLoadForcedSources=True):
         """Preload all DiaObjects and DiaSources from the Apdb given the
         current exposure.
 
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ def run(self, exposure, apdb):
             An exposure with a bounding box.
         apdb : `lsst.dax.apdb.Apdb`
             AP database connection object.
+        doLoadForcedSources : `bool`, optional
+            Load forced DiaSource history from the APDB?
+            This should only be turned off for debugging purposes.
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -79,6 +82,11 @@ def run(self, exposure, apdb):
               exposure padded by ``pixelMargin``. DataFrame is indexed by
               ``diaObjectId``, ``band``, ``diaSourceId`` columns.
               (`pandas.DataFrame`)
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        RuntimeError
+            If the Database query failed to load DiaObjects
         """
         region = self._getRegion(exposure)
 
@@ -95,7 +103,10 @@ def run(self, exposure, apdb):
 
         diaSources = self.loadDiaSources(diaObjects, region, dateTime, apdb)
 
-        diaForcedSources = self.loadDiaForcedSources(diaObjects, region, dateTime, apdb)
+        if doLoadForcedSources:
+            diaForcedSources = self.loadDiaForcedSources(diaObjects, region, dateTime, apdb)
+        else:
+            diaForcedSources = pd.DataFrame(columns=["diaObjectId", "diaForcedSourceId"])
 
         return pipeBase.Struct(
             diaObjects=diaObjects,