diff --git a/third_party/bazelrc/aspect/bazel7.bazelrc b/third_party/bazelrc/aspect/bazel7.bazelrc
index dbd40ee..0a26362 100644
--- a/third_party/bazelrc/aspect/bazel7.bazelrc
+++ b/third_party/bazelrc/aspect/bazel7.bazelrc
@@ -13,3 +13,11 @@
 # build.
 # Docs: https://bazel.build/reference/command-line-reference#flag--reuse_sandbox_directories
 build --reuse_sandbox_directories
+
+# Do not build runfiles symlink forests for external repositories under
+# `.runfiles/wsname/external/repo` (in addition to `.runfiles/repo`). This reduces runfiles &
+# sandbox creation times & prevents accidentally depending on this feature which may flip to off by
+# default in the future. Note, some rules may fail under this flag, please file issues with the rule
+# author.
+# Docs: https://bazel.build/reference/command-line-reference#flag--legacy_external_runfiles
+build --nolegacy_external_runfiles