diff --git a/PWGHF/Utils/utilsEvSelHf.h b/PWGHF/Utils/utilsEvSelHf.h
index 660815ce946..dfd1d848306 100644
--- a/PWGHF/Utils/utilsEvSelHf.h
+++ b/PWGHF/Utils/utilsEvSelHf.h
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ struct HfEventSelection : o2::framework::ConfigurableGroup {
   o2::framework::Configurable<bool> rctCheckZDC{"rctCheckZDC", false, "RCT flag to check whether the ZDC is present or not"};
   o2::framework::Configurable<bool> rctTreatLimitedAcceptanceAsBad{"rctTreatLimitedAcceptanceAsBad", false, "RCT flag to reject events with limited acceptance for selected detectors"};
   o2::framework::Configurable<std::string> irSource{"irSource", "", "Estimator of the interaction rate (Empty: automatically set. Otherwise recommended: pp --> T0VTX, Pb-Pb --> ZNC hadronic)"};
+  o2::framework::Configurable<bool> useUpcZdcTimeCut{"useUpcZdcTimeCut", true, "Apply ZDC time selection for UPC neutron class"};
   o2::framework::Configurable<float> upcZdcTimeMin{"upcZdcTimeMin", -2.f, "Minimum ZDC time for UPC neutron class selection (ns)"};
   o2::framework::Configurable<float> upcZdcTimeMax{"upcZdcTimeMax", 2.f, "Maximum ZDC time for UPC neutron class selection (ns)"};
 
@@ -463,9 +464,11 @@ struct HfEventSelection : o2::framework::ConfigurableGroup {
       if (upcEventType > o2::aod::sgselector::DoubleGap) {
         SETBIT(rejectionMaskWithUpc, EventRejection::UpcEventCut);
       } else {
-        const auto upcZdcNeutronClass = getUpcZdcNeutronClass(*sgSelectionResult.bc, upcZdcTimeMin, upcZdcTimeMax);
-        if (upcZdcNeutronClass != UpcZdcNeutronClassSelection::kXn0n && upcZdcNeutronClass != UpcZdcNeutronClassSelection::k0nXn) {
-          SETBIT(rejectionMaskWithUpc, EventRejection::UpcZdcNeutronClass);
+        if (useUpcZdcTimeCut) {
+          const auto upcZdcNeutronClass = getUpcZdcNeutronClass(*sgSelectionResult.bc, upcZdcTimeMin, upcZdcTimeMax);
+          if (upcZdcNeutronClass != UpcZdcNeutronClassSelection::kXn0n && upcZdcNeutronClass != UpcZdcNeutronClassSelection::k0nXn) {
+            SETBIT(rejectionMaskWithUpc, EventRejection::UpcZdcNeutronClass);
+          }
         }
         hUpCollisions->Fill(upcEventType);
       }