diff --git a/judoscale/core/config.py b/judoscale/core/config.py
index 7476a6f..e9a2234 100644
--- a/judoscale/core/config.py
+++ b/judoscale/core/config.py
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ def is_redundant_instance(self):
         instance_number = self.split(".")[-1]
         return instance_number.isdigit() and int(instance_number) > 1
 
+    @property
+    def is_release_instance(self):
+        # NOTE: this is currently Heroku-specific. We may need to update this
+        # for other platforms in the future and possibly move it to the Config
+        # module.
+        return self.lower().startswith("release")
+
 
 class Config(UserDict):
     def __init__(
diff --git a/judoscale/core/reporter.py b/judoscale/core/reporter.py
index 038bbd7..fe7794b 100644
--- a/judoscale/core/reporter.py
+++ b/judoscale/core/reporter.py
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ def start(self):
             logger.info("Reporter not started: API_BASE_URL not set")
             return
 
+        if self.config["RUNTIME_CONTAINER"].is_release_instance:
+            logger.info("Reporter not started: in a build process")
+            return
+
         logger.info(f"Starting reporter for process {self.pid}")
         self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run_loop, daemon=True)
         self._thread.start()
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index e615e60..29bdb31 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 from judoscale.core.config import Config
 
 
+@fixture
+def heroku_release_1(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("JUDOSCALE_URL", "https://api.example.com")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("DYNO", "release.1")
+    return Config.initialize()
+
+
 @fixture
 def heroku_web_1(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv("JUDOSCALE_URL", "https://api.example.com")
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 446c111..6f32bfe 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -138,6 +138,14 @@ def test_is_redundant_instance(self):
         container = RuntimeContainer("web.2")
         assert container.is_redundant_instance
 
+    def test_is_release_instance(self):
+        container = RuntimeContainer("release.1")
+        assert container.is_release_instance
+
+    def test_is_release_instance_2(self):
+        container = RuntimeContainer("release.2")
+        assert container.is_release_instance
+
     def test_is_not_redundant_instance(self):
         container = RuntimeContainer("web.1")
         assert not container.is_redundant_instance
diff --git a/tests/test_reporter.py b/tests/test_reporter.py
index 748644b..1885891 100644
--- a/tests/test_reporter.py
+++ b/tests/test_reporter.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import logging
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from pytest import fixture
@@ -14,6 +15,11 @@ def reporter(heroku_web_1):
     return Reporter(heroku_web_1)
 
 
+@fixture
+def reporter_in_release(heroku_release_1):
+    return Reporter(heroku_release_1)
+
+
 class TestReporter:
     def test_build_report(self, reporter):
         dt = datetime.fromisoformat("2012-12-12T12:12:00+00:00")
@@ -81,3 +87,14 @@ def test_start(self, reporter):
         assert reporter.config.is_enabled
         reporter.start()
         assert reporter._running
+
+    def test_start_in_release(self, reporter_in_release, caplog):
+        caplog.set_level(logging.INFO, logger="judoscale")
+
+        assert reporter_in_release.config.is_enabled
+        reporter_in_release.ensure_running()
+        assert not reporter_in_release._running
+
+        for record in caplog.records:
+            assert record.levelname == "INFO"
+            assert "Reporter not started: in a build process" in record.message