diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1b75c40d..05c44102 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ If you have actions that trigger on newly created releases, please use a generat
 |-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | `githubUrl`           | The GitHub Enterprise endpoint.                                                                                                                                                                        | `GH_URL` or `GITHUB_URL` environment variable.                                                                                                       |
 | `githubApiPathPrefix` | The GitHub Enterprise API prefix.                                                                                                                                                                      | `GH_PREFIX` or `GITHUB_PREFIX` environment variable.                                                                                                 |
-| `proxy`               | The proxy to use to access the GitHub API. See [proxy](#proxy).                                                                                                                                        | `HTTP_PROXY` environment variable.                                                                                                                   |
+| `proxy`               | The proxy to use to access the GitHub API. Set to `false` to disable usage of proxy. See [proxy](#proxy).                                                                                                                                        | `HTTP_PROXY` environment variable.                                                                                                                   |
 | `assets`              | An array of files to upload to the release. See [assets](#assets).                                                                                                                                     | -                                                                                                                                                    |
 | `successComment`      | The comment to add to each issue and pull request resolved by the release. Set to `false` to disable commenting on issues and pull requests. See [successComment](#successcomment).                    | `:tada: This issue has been resolved in version ${nextRelease.version} :tada:\n\nThe release is available on [GitHub release](<github_release_url>)` |
 | `failComment`         | The content of the issue created when a release fails. Set to `false` to disable opening an issue when a release fails. See [failComment](#failcomment).                                               | Friendly message with links to **semantic-release** documentation and support, with the list of errors that caused the release to fail.              |
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ If you have actions that trigger on newly created releases, please use a generat
 
 #### proxy
 
-Can be a the proxy URL or and `Object` with the following properties:
+Can be `false`, a proxy URL or an `Object` with the following properties:
 
 | Property      | Description                                                    | Default                              |
 |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
diff --git a/lib/resolve-config.js b/lib/resolve-config.js
index c4635814..91b85a84 100644
--- a/lib/resolve-config.js
+++ b/lib/resolve-config.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module.exports = (
   githubToken: env.GH_TOKEN || env.GITHUB_TOKEN,
   githubUrl: githubUrl || env.GITHUB_API_URL || env.GH_URL || env.GITHUB_URL,
   githubApiPathPrefix: githubApiPathPrefix || env.GH_PREFIX || env.GITHUB_PREFIX || '',
-  proxy: proxy || env.HTTP_PROXY,
+  proxy: isNil(proxy) ? env.http_proxy || env.HTTP_PROXY || false : proxy,
   assets: assets ? castArray(assets) : assets,
   successComment,
   failTitle: isNil(failTitle) ? 'The automated release is failing 🚨' : failTitle,
diff --git a/lib/verify.js b/lib/verify.js
index 465e1665..e9ee6bb7 100644
--- a/lib/verify.js
+++ b/lib/verify.js
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ const isArrayOf = (validator) => (array) => isArray(array) && array.every((value
 const canBeDisabled = (validator) => (value) => value === false || validator(value);
 
 const VALIDATORS = {
-  proxy: (proxy) =>
-    isNonEmptyString(proxy) || (isPlainObject(proxy) && isNonEmptyString(proxy.host) && isNumber(proxy.port)),
+  proxy: canBeDisabled(
+    (proxy) => isNonEmptyString(proxy) || (isPlainObject(proxy) && isNonEmptyString(proxy.host) && isNumber(proxy.port))
+  ),
   assets: isArrayOf(
     (asset) => isStringOrStringArray(asset) || (isPlainObject(asset) && isStringOrStringArray(asset.path))
   ),
diff --git a/test/get-client.test.js b/test/get-client.test.js
index c34a6beb..16fa09c8 100644
--- a/test/get-client.test.js
+++ b/test/get-client.test.js
@@ -88,6 +88,33 @@ test.serial('Use a https proxy', async (t) => {
   await promisify(server.destroy).bind(server)();
 });
 
+test.serial('Do not use a proxy if set to false', async (t) => {
+  const server = http.createServer();
+  await promisify(server.listen).bind(server)();
+  const serverPort = server.address().port;
+  serverDestroy(server);
+
+  const serverHandler = spy((request, response) => {
+    response.end();
+  });
+  server.on('request', serverHandler);
+
+  const github = getClient({
+    githubToken: 'github_token',
+    githubUrl: `http://localhost:${serverPort}`,
+    githubApiPathPrefix: '',
+    proxy: false,
+  });
+
+  await github.repos.get({repo: 'repo', owner: 'owner'});
+
+  t.is(serverHandler.args[0][0].headers.accept, 'application/vnd.github.v3+json');
+  t.falsy(serverHandler.args[0][0].headers.via);
+  t.falsy(serverHandler.args[0][0].headers['x-forwarded-for']);
+
+  await promisify(server.destroy).bind(server)();
+});
+
 test('Use the global throttler for all endpoints', async (t) => {
   const rate = 150;
 
diff --git a/test/verify.test.js b/test/verify.test.js
index 9b62accf..f428e741 100644
--- a/test/verify.test.js
+++ b/test/verify.test.js
@@ -207,6 +207,25 @@ test.serial('Verify "proxy" is an object with "host" and "port" properties', asy
   t.true(github.isDone());
 });
 
+test.serial('Verify "proxy" is a Boolean set to false', async (t) => {
+  const owner = 'test_user';
+  const repo = 'test_repo';
+  const env = {GH_TOKEN: 'github_token'};
+  const proxy = false;
+  const github = authenticate(env)
+    .get(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}`)
+    .reply(200, {permissions: {push: true}});
+
+  await t.notThrowsAsync(
+    verify(
+      {proxy},
+      {env, options: {repositoryUrl: `git@othertesturl.com:${owner}/${repo}.git`}, logger: t.context.logger}
+    )
+  );
+
+  t.true(github.isDone());
+});
+
 test.serial('Verify "assets" is a String', async (t) => {
   const owner = 'test_user';
   const repo = 'test_repo';