diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cc430356191c3..8d9c3d8a1f186 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,10 +41,13 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 - Fixed error using `auto_select_gpus=True` with `gpus=-1` ([#4209](https://github.com/PyTorchLightning/pytorch-lightning/pull/4209))
 
+- Disabled training when `limit_train_batches=0` ([#4371](https://github.com/PyTorchLightning/pytorch-lightning/pull/4371))
+
 - Fixed that metrics do not store computational graph for all seen data ([#4313](https://github.com/PyTorchLightning/pytorch-lightning/pull/4313))
 
 - Fixed AMP unscale for `on_after_backward` ([#4439](https://github.com/PyTorchLightning/pytorch-lightning/pull/4439))
 
+
 ## [1.0.4] - 2020-10-27
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/trainer.py b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/trainer.py
index d3cc2f2e7278f..49cf232f76ac7 100644
--- a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/trainer.py
+++ b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/trainer.py
@@ -482,6 +482,10 @@ def train(self):
         # hook
         self.train_loop.on_train_start()
 
+        if self.train_loop.should_skip_training():
+            self.train_loop.on_train_end()
+            return
+
         try:
             # run all epochs
             for epoch in range(self.current_epoch, self.max_epochs):
diff --git a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/training_loop.py b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/training_loop.py
index 0a931257f560f..3845b7eb728ac 100644
--- a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/training_loop.py
+++ b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/training_loop.py
@@ -77,6 +77,15 @@ def num_optimizers(self):
         num_optimizers = len(self.get_optimizers_iterable())
         return num_optimizers
 
+    def should_skip_training(self):
+        if self.trainer.current_epoch >= self.trainer.max_epochs:
+            return True
+
+        if self.trainer.limit_train_batches == 0:
+            return True
+
+        return False
+
     def on_train_start(self):
         # clear cache before training
         if self.trainer.on_gpu and self.trainer.root_gpu is not None:
@@ -597,7 +606,7 @@ def run_training_epoch(self):
             self.trainer.total_batch_idx += 1
 
             # stop epoch if we limited the number of training batches
-            if batch_idx + 1 >= self.trainer.num_training_batches:
+            if (batch_idx + 1) >= self.trainer.num_training_batches:
                 break
 
             # progress global step according to grads progress
diff --git a/tests/callbacks/test_progress_bar.py b/tests/callbacks/test_progress_bar.py
index d354b59682240..221844244ad75 100644
--- a/tests/callbacks/test_progress_bar.py
+++ b/tests/callbacks/test_progress_bar.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def on_validation_epoch_end(self, trainer, pl_module):
         default_root_dir=tmpdir,
         max_epochs=1,
         num_sanity_val_steps=2,
-        limit_train_batches=0,
+        limit_train_batches=1,
         limit_val_batches=limit_val_batches,
         callbacks=[progress_bar],
         logger=False,
diff --git a/tests/trainer/test_trainer.py b/tests/trainer/test_trainer.py
index d45c1c50cc060..51fa89ee5539b 100644
--- a/tests/trainer/test_trainer.py
+++ b/tests/trainer/test_trainer.py
@@ -747,6 +747,68 @@ def test_test_checkpoint_path(tmpdir, ckpt_path, save_top_k):
             assert trainer.tested_ckpt_path == ckpt_path
 
 
+def test_disabled_training(tmpdir):
+    """Verify that `limit_train_batches=0` disables the training loop unless `fast_dev_run=True`."""
+
+    class CurrentModel(BoringModel):
+
+        training_step_invoked = False
+        training_epoch_end_invoked = False
+
+        def training_step(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            self.training_step_invoked = True
+            return super().training_step(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        def training_epoch_end(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            self.training_epoch_end_invoked = True
+            return super().training_epoch_end(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    model = CurrentModel()
+
+    trainer_options = dict(
+        default_root_dir=tmpdir,
+        progress_bar_refresh_rate=0,
+        max_epochs=2,
+        limit_train_batches=0.0,
+        limit_val_batches=0.2,
+        fast_dev_run=False,
+    )
+
+    before_state_dict = deepcopy(model.state_dict())
+
+    trainer = Trainer(**trainer_options)
+    result = trainer.fit(model)
+
+    after_state_dict = model.state_dict()
+
+    for key in before_state_dict.keys():
+        assert torch.all(torch.eq(before_state_dict[key], after_state_dict[key]))
+
+    # check that limit_train_batches=0 turns off training
+    assert result == 1, "training failed to complete"
+    assert trainer.current_epoch == 0
+    assert not model.training_step_invoked, "`training_step` should not run when `limit_train_batches=0`"
+    assert not model.training_epoch_end_invoked, "`training_epoch_end` should not run when `limit_train_batches=0`"
+
+    # check that limit_train_batches has no influence when fast_dev_run is turned on
+    model = CurrentModel()
+    trainer_options.update(fast_dev_run=True)
+    before_state_dict = deepcopy(model.state_dict())
+
+    trainer = Trainer(**trainer_options)
+    result = trainer.fit(model)
+
+    after_state_dict = model.state_dict()
+
+    for key in before_state_dict.keys():
+        assert not torch.all(torch.eq(before_state_dict[key], after_state_dict[key]))
+
+    assert result == 1, "training failed to complete"
+    assert trainer.current_epoch == 0
+    assert model.training_step_invoked, "did not run `training_step` with `fast_dev_run=True`"
+    assert model.training_epoch_end_invoked, "did not run `training_epoch_end` with `fast_dev_run=True`"
+
+
 def test_disabled_validation(tmpdir):
     """Verify that `limit_val_batches=0` disables the validation loop unless `fast_dev_run=True`."""