diff --git a/extraconfig/post_deploy/rhel-registration/scripts/rhel-registration b/extraconfig/post_deploy/rhel-registration/scripts/rhel-registration
index c2bf18946b..cbbd6a1d0e 100644
--- a/extraconfig/post_deploy/rhel-registration/scripts/rhel-registration
+++ b/extraconfig/post_deploy/rhel-registration/scripts/rhel-registration
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ fi
 case "${REG_METHOD:-}" in
     portal)
         subscription-manager register $opts
-        if [ -z "${REG_AUTO_ATTACH:-}" ]; then
+        if [ -z "${REG_AUTO_ATTACH:-}" -a -z "${REG_ACTIVATION_KEY:-}" ]; then
             subscription-manager attach $attach_opts
         fi
         subscription-manager $repos