diff --git a/.github/scripts/therock_matrix.py b/.github/scripts/therock_matrix.py
index 19db7c92aecc..ea29a7fb5a7d 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/therock_matrix.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/therock_matrix.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
         "cmake_options": [
             "-DTHEROCK_ENABLE_HIPKERNELPROVIDER=ON",
             "-DHIP_KERNEL_PROVIDER_ENABLE=ON",
+            "-DTHEROCK_FLAG_HIPKERNELPROVIDER_ENABLE_ROCKE=ON",
         ],
         "projects_to_test": ["hipkernelprovider"],
     },
diff --git a/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/CMakeLists.txt b/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/CMakeLists.txt
index 6c09f1cf4e5d..dc8f7e30c742 100644
--- a/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -148,6 +148,11 @@ if(HIPKERNELPROVIDER_ENABLE_ROCKE)
     # must precede src/ below, which emits bin/hip_kernel_provider/CTestTestfile.cmake.
     set(ROCKE_INSTALL_PROVIDER_CTEST_SUBDIR "hip_kernel_provider")
     set(ROCKE_INSTALL_STANDALONE_CTEST OFF)
+    # Defer the Python rocKE CI tests (import smoke + golden): their test-artifact
+    # packaging (rocke package + scripts + golden JSON) is not yet wired into
+    # TheRock's hipkernelprovider artifact includes, so staging them here would
+    # fail CI. The C++ smoke tests stay enabled; re-enable once packaging lands.
+    set(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_TESTS OFF)
     add_subdirectory(rocke)
 else()
     message(STATUS "rocKE features disabled")
diff --git a/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/rocke/platform/CMakeLists.txt b/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/rocke/platform/CMakeLists.txt
index b81720111983..fbacd6cc3f9f 100644
--- a/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/rocke/platform/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/dnn-providers/hip-kernel-provider/rocke/platform/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -91,6 +91,13 @@ endif()
 option(ROCKE_BUILD_PYBIND "Build the rocke_engine Python extension module" OFF)
 option(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_PACKAGE "Install the rocke Python frontend" ON)
 option(ROCKE_INSTALL_TESTS "Install rocKE smoke test artifacts and CTest metadata" ON)
+# The Python rocKE CI tests (import smoke + golden byte-stability) are gated
+# separately from the C++ smoke tests. Provider mode turns them OFF until their
+# test-artifact packaging is wired up (the rocke package, the smoke/golden
+# scripts, and the golden JSON are not yet in TheRock's hipkernelprovider
+# artifact includes, so staging them there fails at test time). Standalone
+# runs, which package everything locally, keep them ON.
+option(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_TESTS "Install rocKE Python smoke/golden CI tests" ON)
 option(ROCKE_INSTALL_STANDALONE_CTEST "Install standalone rocKE CTest metadata" ON)
 if(NOT DEFINED ROCKE_INSTALL_PROVIDER_CTEST_SUBDIR)
   set(ROCKE_INSTALL_PROVIDER_CTEST_SUBDIR "" CACHE STRING
@@ -227,23 +234,25 @@ if(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_PACKAGE)
 endif()
 
 if(ROCKE_INSTALL_TESTS)
-  # The Python import smoke (placeholder for the rocke Python CI test) installs
-  # next to the CTestTestfile in both modes: provider mode -> bin/<subdir>/,
-  # standalone -> bin/. In provider mode it imports the co-located rocke package
-  # installed above; TheRock's test artifact captures both via explicit includes.
-  install(PROGRAMS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tools/rocke_installed_smoke.py"
-          DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
+  if(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_TESTS)
+    # The Python import smoke (placeholder for the rocke Python CI test) installs
+    # next to the CTestTestfile in both modes: provider mode -> bin/<subdir>/,
+    # standalone -> bin/. In provider mode it imports the co-located rocke package
+    # installed above; TheRock's test artifact captures both via explicit includes.
+    install(PROGRAMS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tools/rocke_installed_smoke.py"
+            DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
 
-  # Host-only golden IR byte-stability gate. The relocatable runner rebuilds the
-  # representative IR from the co-located rocke package and compares digests to
-  # the committed golden. It needs the parity harness module (imported by name)
-  # and the golden JSON co-located next to it; no GPU and no examples required.
-  install(PROGRAMS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/rocke_installed_golden_test.py"
-          DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
-  install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/instances/rocke_ir_parity_harness.py"
-          DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
-  install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/golden/rocke_representative_ir_sha256.json"
-          DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR}/golden)
+    # Host-only golden IR byte-stability gate. The relocatable runner rebuilds the
+    # representative IR from the co-located rocke package and compares digests to
+    # the committed golden. It needs the parity harness module (imported by name)
+    # and the golden JSON co-located next to it; no GPU and no examples required.
+    install(PROGRAMS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/rocke_installed_golden_test.py"
+            DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
+    install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/instances/rocke_ir_parity_harness.py"
+            DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR})
+    install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/golden/rocke_representative_ir_sha256.json"
+            DESTINATION ${ROCKE_TEST_INSTALL_DIR}/golden)
+  endif()
 
   set(_ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES "")
   get_property(_ROCKE_INSTALL_TEST_TARGETS GLOBAL PROPERTY ROCKE_INSTALL_TEST_TARGETS)
@@ -255,21 +264,23 @@ if(ROCKE_INSTALL_TESTS)
            "set_tests_properties(${_test_target} PROPERTIES LABELS \"ckc;unit;host;quick\")\n")
   endforeach()
 
-  # Stage the Python import smoke in both modes. It sits next to the
-  # CTestTestfile (provider: bin/<subdir>/, standalone: bin/rocke/ -> "../"), so
-  # the same "${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}" prefix reaches it. The co-located rocke
-  # package is captured by TheRock's test-artifact includes in provider mode.
-  string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
-         "add_test(rocke_python_import_smoke \"${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}rocke_installed_smoke.py\")\n")
-  string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
-         "set_tests_properties(rocke_python_import_smoke PROPERTIES LABELS \"ckc;python;quick\")\n")
+  if(ROCKE_INSTALL_PYTHON_TESTS)
+    # Stage the Python import smoke in both modes. It sits next to the
+    # CTestTestfile (provider: bin/<subdir>/, standalone: bin/rocke/ -> "../"), so
+    # the same "${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}" prefix reaches it. The co-located rocke
+    # package is captured by TheRock's test-artifact includes in provider mode.
+    string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
+           "add_test(rocke_python_import_smoke \"${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}rocke_installed_smoke.py\")\n")
+    string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
+           "set_tests_properties(rocke_python_import_smoke PROPERTIES LABELS \"ckc;python;quick\")\n")
 
-  # Golden IR byte-stability gate (host-only, no GPU). Reached via the same
-  # relative prefix as the smoke; imports the co-located rocke package + harness.
-  string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
-         "add_test(rocke_golden_static \"${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}rocke_installed_golden_test.py\")\n")
-  string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
-         "set_tests_properties(rocke_golden_static PROPERTIES LABELS \"ckc;python;golden;host;quick\")\n")
+    # Golden IR byte-stability gate (host-only, no GPU). Reached via the same
+    # relative prefix as the smoke; imports the co-located rocke package + harness.
+    string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
+           "add_test(rocke_golden_static \"${ROCKE_TEST_CTEST_REL}rocke_installed_golden_test.py\")\n")
+    string(APPEND _ROCKE_INSTALLED_CTEST_ENTRIES
+           "set_tests_properties(rocke_golden_static PROPERTIES LABELS \"ckc;python;golden;host;quick\")\n")
+  endif()
 
   if(ROCKE_INSTALL_PROVIDER_CTEST_SUBDIR)
     set_property(GLOBAL APPEND_STRING PROPERTY