diff --git a/cmd/soroban-cli/src/commands/contract/install.rs b/cmd/soroban-cli/src/commands/contract/install.rs
index ea5719140..20b478f0f 100644
--- a/cmd/soroban-cli/src/commands/contract/install.rs
+++ b/cmd/soroban-cli/src/commands/contract/install.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::rpc::{self, Client};
 use crate::{commands::config, utils, wasm};
 
 const CONTRACT_META_SDK_KEY: &str = "rssdkver";
+const PUBLIC_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE: &str = "Public Global Stellar Network ; September 2015";
 
 #[derive(Parser, Debug, Clone)]
 #[group(skip)]
@@ -70,29 +71,30 @@ impl Cmd {
     }
 
     pub async fn run_and_get_hash(&self) -> Result<Hash, Error> {
+        self.run_against_rpc_server(&self.wasm.read()?).await
+    }
+
+    async fn run_against_rpc_server(&self, contract: &[u8]) -> Result<Hash, Error> {
+        let network = self.config.get_network()?;
+        let client = Client::new(&network.rpc_url)?;
+        client
+            .verify_network_passphrase(Some(&network.network_passphrase))
+            .await?;
         let wasm_spec = &self.wasm.parse().map_err(|e| Error::CannotParseWasm {
             wasm: self.wasm.wasm.clone(),
             error: e,
         })?;
+        // Check Rust SDK version if using the public network.
         if let Some(rs_sdk_ver) = get_contract_meta_sdk_version(wasm_spec) {
-            if rs_sdk_ver.contains("rc") && !self.ignore_checks {
+            if rs_sdk_ver.contains("rc") && !self.ignore_checks && network.network_passphrase == PUBLIC_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE {
                 return Err(Error::ContractCompiledWithReleaseCandidateSdk {
                     wasm: self.wasm.wasm.clone(),
                     version: rs_sdk_ver,
                 });
-            } else if rs_sdk_ver.contains("rc") {
+            } else if rs_sdk_ver.contains("rc") && network.network_passphrase == PUBLIC_NETWORK_PASSPHRASE{
                 tracing::warn!("the deployed smart contract {path} was built with Soroban Rust SDK v{rs_sdk_ver}, a release candidate version not intended for use with the Stellar Public Network", path = self.wasm.wasm.display());
             }
         }
-        self.run_against_rpc_server(&self.wasm.read()?).await
-    }
-
-    async fn run_against_rpc_server(&self, contract: &[u8]) -> Result<Hash, Error> {
-        let network = self.config.get_network()?;
-        let client = Client::new(&network.rpc_url)?;
-        client
-            .verify_network_passphrase(Some(&network.network_passphrase))
-            .await?;
         let key = self.config.key_pair()?;
 
         // Get the account sequence number