diff --git a/src/nix/build.cc b/src/nix/build.cc
index f7c99f12d..093415a0d 100644
--- a/src/nix/build.cc
+++ b/src/nix/build.cc
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ struct CmdBuild : MixDryRun, InstallablesCommand
     {
         auto buildables = toBuildables(store, dryRun ? DryRun : Build, installables);
 
+        if (dryRun) return;
+
         for (size_t i = 0; i < buildables.size(); ++i) {
             auto & b(buildables[i]);