diff --git a/playbooks/roles/gitea/templates/app.ini.j2 b/playbooks/roles/gitea/templates/app.ini.j2
index 791359a844..f476ffc6b6 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/gitea/templates/app.ini.j2
+++ b/playbooks/roles/gitea/templates/app.ini.j2
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ ROOT = /data/git/repositories
 DISABLED_REPO_UNITS = repo.issues,repo.pulls,repo.wiki,repo.projects
 DISABLE_STARS = true
 
+[git]
+; Implemented in 1.16 but breaks pip install when using older Git clients
+DISABLE_PARTIAL_CLONE = true
+
 [indexer]
 ISSUE_INDEXER_PATH = /data/gitea/indexers/issues.bleve
 REPO_INDEXER_ENABLED = true