diff --git a/smoke_tests.txt b/smoke_tests.txt
index 40bccfdd..e3e03a94 100644
--- a/smoke_tests.txt
+++ b/smoke_tests.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@ imaging/fit.py
 imaging/modeling.py
 interferometer/start_here.py
 multi/start_here.py
-ellipse/modeling.py
+# ellipse/modeling.py  # disabled: bypass mode tuple-path KeyError on ellipse models (rhayes777/PyAutoFit#1179)
 guides/galaxies.py
 guides/modeling/cookbook.py