diff --git a/nf_core/download.py b/nf_core/download.py
index 5d214d2aaf..c712ecdfcd 100644
--- a/nf_core/download.py
+++ b/nf_core/download.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.force = force
         self.tower = tower
         self.include_configs = None
-        self.container = container if not singularity_cache_index else "singularity"
+        self.container = container if not singularity_cache_index or not tower else "singularity"
         self.singularity_cache = (
             singularity_cache if not singularity_cache_index else "remote"
         )  # if a singularity_cache_index is given, use the file and overrule choice.
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ def prompt_config_inclusion(self):
     def prompt_container_download(self):
         """Prompt whether to download container images or not"""
 
-        if self.container is None and stderr.is_interactive:
+        if self.container is None and stderr.is_interactive and not self.tower:
             stderr.print("\nIn addition to the pipeline code, this tool can download software containers.")
             self.container = questionary.select(
                 "Download software container images:",