diff --git a/api/OWNERS b/api/OWNERS
index 8f7783f9f0b..6abee65c2f9 100644
--- a/api/OWNERS
+++ b/api/OWNERS
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# Disable inheritance as this is an api owners file
+options:
+  no_parent_owners: true
 approvers:
 - api-approvers
 reviewers:
diff --git a/docs/api-reference/OWNERS b/docs/api-reference/OWNERS
index 8f7783f9f0b..6abee65c2f9 100644
--- a/docs/api-reference/OWNERS
+++ b/docs/api-reference/OWNERS
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# Disable inheritance as this is an api owners file
+options:
+  no_parent_owners: true
 approvers:
 - api-approvers
 reviewers:
diff --git a/pkg/api/OWNERS b/pkg/api/OWNERS
index a75c3ce229b..3e0361498b5 100644
--- a/pkg/api/OWNERS
+++ b/pkg/api/OWNERS
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # See the OWNERS docs at https://go.k8s.io/owners
-
+# Disable inheritance as this is an api owners file
+options:
+  no_parent_owners: true
 filters:
   ".*":
     approvers:
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/OWNERS b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/OWNERS
index e79d5f1d4e6..7b9fd5dbf8a 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/OWNERS
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/OWNERS
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# Disable inheritance as this is an api owners file
+options:
+  no_parent_owners: true
 approvers:
 - erictune
 - lavalamp