diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Features-20230823-140407.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Features-20230823-140407.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b5101ecf11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Features-20230823-140407.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Features
+body: Add --no-inject-ephemeral-ctes flag for `compile` command, for usage by linting.
+time: 2023-08-23T14:04:07.617476-04:00
+custom:
+  Author: benmosher
+  Issue: "8480"
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/main.py b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
index b53ff3277ba..9b6e8459cb0 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/main.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ def docs_serve(ctx, **kwargs):
 @p.state
 @p.defer_state
 @p.deprecated_state
+@p.compile_inject_ephemeral_ctes
 @p.target
 @p.target_path
 @p.threads
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/params.py b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
index 3c016958fb4..f7a7365a07e 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/params.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@
     default=True,
 )
 
+compile_inject_ephemeral_ctes = click.option(
+    "--inject-ephemeral-ctes/--no-inject-ephemeral-ctes",
+    envvar=None,
+    help="Internal flag controlling injection of referenced ephemeral models' CTEs during `compile`.",
+    hidden=True,
+    default=True,
+)
+
 config_dir = click.option(
     "--config-dir",
     envvar=None,
diff --git a/core/dbt/compilation.py b/core/dbt/compilation.py
index 959ad2516d1..f37e248515a 100644
--- a/core/dbt/compilation.py
+++ b/core/dbt/compilation.py
@@ -320,6 +320,10 @@ def _recursively_prepend_ctes(
         if model.compiled_code is None:
             raise DbtRuntimeError("Cannot inject ctes into an uncompiled node", model)
 
+        # tech debt: safe flag/arg access (#6259)
+        if not getattr(self.config.args, "inject_ephemeral_ctes", True):
+            return (model, [])
+
         # extra_ctes_injected flag says that we've already recursively injected the ctes
         if model.extra_ctes_injected:
             return (model, model.extra_ctes)
diff --git a/tests/functional/materializations/test_ephemeral_compilation.py b/tests/functional/materializations/test_ephemeral_compilation.py
index 56f49928756..c9f17d3e00c 100644
--- a/tests/functional/materializations/test_ephemeral_compilation.py
+++ b/tests/functional/materializations/test_ephemeral_compilation.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from dbt.contracts.graph.nodes import ModelNode
+from dbt.contracts.results import RunExecutionResult, RunResult
 import pytest
 from dbt.tests.util import run_dbt
 
@@ -53,6 +55,16 @@
 """
 
 
+SUPPRESSED_CTE_EXPECTED_OUTPUT = """-- fct_eph_first.sql
+
+
+with int_eph_first as(
+    select * from __dbt__cte__int_eph_first
+)
+
+select * from int_eph_first"""
+
+
 class TestEphemeralCompilation:
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
     def models(self):
@@ -67,5 +79,13 @@ def test_ephemeral_compilation(self, project):
         results = run_dbt(["run"])
         assert len(results) == 0
 
-        results = run_dbt(["test"])
-        len(results) == 4
+    def test__suppress_injected_ctes(self, project):
+        compile_output = run_dbt(
+            ["compile", "--no-inject-ephemeral-ctes", "--select", "fct_eph_first"]
+        )
+        assert isinstance(compile_output, RunExecutionResult)
+        node_result = compile_output.results[0]
+        assert isinstance(node_result, RunResult)
+        node = node_result.node
+        assert isinstance(node, ModelNode)
+        assert node.compiled_code == SUPPRESSED_CTE_EXPECTED_OUTPUT