diff --git a/scripts/compute_norm_stats.py b/scripts/compute_norm_stats.py
index c8aef87222..b39ae9b8e0 100644
--- a/scripts/compute_norm_stats.py
+++ b/scripts/compute_norm_stats.py
@@ -27,11 +27,18 @@ def create_torch_dataloader(
     batch_size: int,
     model_config: _model.BaseModelConfig,
     num_workers: int,
+    *,
     max_frames: int | None = None,
+    skip_video_decoding: bool = False,
 ) -> tuple[_data_loader.Dataset, int]:
     if data_config.repo_id is None:
         raise ValueError("Data config must have a repo_id")
-    dataset = _data_loader.create_torch_dataset(data_config, action_horizon, model_config)
+    dataset = _data_loader.create_torch_dataset(
+        data_config,
+        action_horizon,
+        model_config,
+        skip_video_decoding=skip_video_decoding,
+    )
     dataset = _data_loader.TransformedDataset(
         dataset,
         [
@@ -86,7 +93,7 @@ def create_rlds_dataloader(
     return data_loader, num_batches
 
 
-def main(config_name: str, max_frames: int | None = None):
+def main(config_name: str, *, max_frames: int | None = None, skip_video_decoding: bool = False):
     config = _config.get_config(config_name)
     data_config = config.data.create(config.assets_dirs, config.model)
 
@@ -96,7 +103,13 @@ def main(config_name: str, max_frames: int | None = None):
         )
     else:
         data_loader, num_batches = create_torch_dataloader(
-            data_config, config.model.action_horizon, config.batch_size, config.model, config.num_workers, max_frames
+            data_config,
+            config.model.action_horizon,
+            config.batch_size,
+            config.model,
+            config.num_workers,
+            max_frames=max_frames,
+            skip_video_decoding=skip_video_decoding,
         )
 
     keys = ["state", "actions"]
diff --git a/src/openpi/training/data_loader.py b/src/openpi/training/data_loader.py
index e2ee7dd06b..4c238e6f6a 100644
--- a/src/openpi/training/data_loader.py
+++ b/src/openpi/training/data_loader.py
@@ -127,8 +127,27 @@ def __len__(self) -> int:
         return self._num_samples
 
 
+class LeRobotDatasetWithDummyVideos(lerobot_dataset.LeRobotDataset):
+    """LeRobot dataset that replaces decoded video frames with tiny placeholders."""
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        kwargs["download_videos"] = False
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def _query_videos(self, query_timestamps: dict[str, list[float]], ep_idx: int) -> dict[str, torch.Tensor]:
+        del ep_idx
+        return {
+            key: torch.zeros((len(timestamps), 3, 1, 1), dtype=torch.uint8).squeeze(0)
+            for key, timestamps in query_timestamps.items()
+        }
+
+
 def create_torch_dataset(
-    data_config: _config.DataConfig, action_horizon: int, model_config: _model.BaseModelConfig
+    data_config: _config.DataConfig,
+    action_horizon: int,
+    model_config: _model.BaseModelConfig,
+    *,
+    skip_video_decoding: bool = False,
 ) -> Dataset:
     """Create a dataset for training."""
     repo_id = data_config.repo_id
@@ -138,7 +157,8 @@ def create_torch_dataset(
         return FakeDataset(model_config, num_samples=1024)
 
     dataset_meta = lerobot_dataset.LeRobotDatasetMetadata(repo_id)
-    dataset = lerobot_dataset.LeRobotDataset(
+    dataset_cls = LeRobotDatasetWithDummyVideos if skip_video_decoding else lerobot_dataset.LeRobotDataset
+    dataset = dataset_cls(
         data_config.repo_id,
         delta_timestamps={
             key: [t / dataset_meta.fps for t in range(action_horizon)] for key in data_config.action_sequence_keys
diff --git a/src/openpi/training/data_loader_test.py b/src/openpi/training/data_loader_test.py
index d15a73529e..58638d72af 100644
--- a/src/openpi/training/data_loader_test.py
+++ b/src/openpi/training/data_loader_test.py
@@ -1,12 +1,30 @@
 import dataclasses
 
 import jax
+import torch
 
 from openpi.models import pi0_config
 from openpi.training import config as _config
 from openpi.training import data_loader as _data_loader
 
 
+def test_dummy_video_dataset_skips_video_download_and_decoding(monkeypatch):
+    captured_kwargs = {}
+
+    def mock_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        del self, args
+        captured_kwargs.update(kwargs)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_data_loader.lerobot_dataset.LeRobotDataset, "__init__", mock_init)
+    dataset = _data_loader.LeRobotDatasetWithDummyVideos("test")
+
+    frames = dataset._query_videos({"camera": [0.0, 0.1]}, ep_idx=0)  # noqa: SLF001
+
+    assert captured_kwargs["download_videos"] is False
+    assert frames["camera"].shape == (2, 3, 1, 1)
+    assert frames["camera"].dtype == torch.uint8
+
+
 def test_torch_data_loader():
     config = pi0_config.Pi0Config(action_dim=24, action_horizon=50, max_token_len=48)
     dataset = _data_loader.FakeDataset(config, 16)