diff --git a/cli/templatepush.go b/cli/templatepush.go
index 3657394cb2a7a..684eac23e3e66 100644
--- a/cli/templatepush.go
+++ b/cli/templatepush.go
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ func (r *RootCmd) templatePush() *clibase.Cmd {
 		alwaysPrompt    bool
 		provisionerTags []string
 		uploadFlags     templateUploadFlags
+		activate        bool
 	)
 	client := new(codersdk.Client)
 	cmd := &clibase.Cmd{
@@ -172,11 +173,13 @@ func (r *RootCmd) templatePush() *clibase.Cmd {
 				return xerrors.Errorf("job failed: %s", job.Job.Status)
 			}
 
-			err = client.UpdateActiveTemplateVersion(inv.Context(), template.ID, codersdk.UpdateActiveTemplateVersion{
-				ID: job.ID,
-			})
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
+			if activate {
+				err = client.UpdateActiveTemplateVersion(inv.Context(), template.ID, codersdk.UpdateActiveTemplateVersion{
+					ID: job.ID,
+				})
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 			}
 
 			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(inv.Stdout, "Updated version at %s!\n", cliui.Styles.DateTimeStamp.Render(time.Now().Format(time.Stamp)))
@@ -226,6 +229,12 @@ func (r *RootCmd) templatePush() *clibase.Cmd {
 			Description: "Always prompt all parameters. Does not pull parameter values from active template version.",
 			Value:       clibase.BoolOf(&alwaysPrompt),
 		},
+		{
+			Flag:        "activate",
+			Description: "Whether the new template will be marked active.",
+			Default:     "true",
+			Value:       clibase.BoolOf(&activate),
+		},
 		cliui.SkipPromptOption(),
 		uploadFlags.option(),
 	}
diff --git a/cli/templatepush_test.go b/cli/templatepush_test.go
index 8a206de160445..82b0fd51980d1 100644
--- a/cli/templatepush_test.go
+++ b/cli/templatepush_test.go
@@ -69,6 +69,48 @@ func TestTemplatePush(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, "example", templateVersions[1].Name)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("PushInactiveTemplateVersion", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+		client := coderdtest.New(t, &coderdtest.Options{IncludeProvisionerDaemon: true})
+		user := coderdtest.CreateFirstUser(t, client)
+		version := coderdtest.CreateTemplateVersion(t, client, user.OrganizationID, nil)
+		_ = coderdtest.AwaitTemplateVersionJob(t, client, version.ID)
+
+		template := coderdtest.CreateTemplate(t, client, user.OrganizationID, version.ID)
+
+		// Test the cli command.
+		source := clitest.CreateTemplateVersionSource(t, &echo.Responses{
+			Parse:          echo.ParseComplete,
+			ProvisionApply: echo.ProvisionComplete,
+		})
+		inv, root := clitest.New(t, "templates", "push", template.Name, "--activate=false", "--directory", source, "--test.provisioner", string(database.ProvisionerTypeEcho), "--name", "example")
+		clitest.SetupConfig(t, client, root)
+		pty := ptytest.New(t).Attach(inv)
+		w := clitest.StartWithWaiter(t, inv)
+
+		matches := []struct {
+			match string
+			write string
+		}{
+			{match: "Upload", write: "yes"},
+		}
+		for _, m := range matches {
+			pty.ExpectMatch(m.match)
+			pty.WriteLine(m.write)
+		}
+
+		w.RequireSuccess()
+
+		// Assert that the template version didn't change.
+		templateVersions, err := client.TemplateVersionsByTemplate(context.Background(), codersdk.TemplateVersionsByTemplateRequest{
+			TemplateID: template.ID,
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Len(t, templateVersions, 2)
+		assert.Equal(t, template.ActiveVersionID, templateVersions[0].ID)
+		require.NotEqual(t, "example", templateVersions[0].Name)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("UseWorkingDir", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 
diff --git a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
index 6f5e82d9f208c..c544ecc341f60 100644
--- a/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
+++ b/cli/testdata/coder_templates_push_--help.golden
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ Usage: coder templates push [flags] [template]
 Push a new template version from the current directory or as specified by flag
 
 Options
+      --activate bool (default: true)
+          Whether the new template will be marked active.
+
       --always-prompt bool
           Always prompt all parameters. Does not pull parameter values from
           active template version.
diff --git a/docs/cli/templates_push.md b/docs/cli/templates_push.md
index ddbd1250823c1..b3762a641eb56 100644
--- a/docs/cli/templates_push.md
+++ b/docs/cli/templates_push.md
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ coder templates push [flags] [template]
 
 ## Options
 
+### --activate
+
+|         |                   |
+| ------- | ----------------- |
+| Type    | <code>bool</code> |
+| Default | <code>true</code> |
+
+Whether the new template will be marked active.
+
 ### --always-prompt
 
 |      |                   |