diff --git a/pmb/build/_package.py b/pmb/build/_package.py
index 6c73dc38..14f760ef 100644
--- a/pmb/build/_package.py
+++ b/pmb/build/_package.py
@@ -140,13 +140,22 @@ def build_depends(args, apkbuild, arch, strict):
     logging.verbose(pkgname + ": build/install dependencies: " +
                     ", ".join(depends))
 
-    # Build them
+    # --no-depends: check for binary packages
     depends_built = []
-    for depend in depends:
-        if package(args, depend, arch, strict=strict):
-            depends_built += [depend]
-    logging.verbose(pkgname + ": build dependencies: done, built: " +
-                    ", ".join(depends_built))
+    if "no_depends" in args and args.no_depends:
+        for depend in depends:
+            if not pmb.parse.apkindex.package(args, depend, arch, False):
+                raise RuntimeError("Missing binary package for dependency '" +
+                                   depend + "' of '" + pkgname + "', but"
+                                   " pmbootstrap won't build any depends since"
+                                   " it was started with --no-depends.")
+    else:
+        # Build the dependencies
+        for depend in depends:
+            if package(args, depend, arch, strict=strict):
+                depends_built += [depend]
+        logging.verbose(pkgname + ": build dependencies: done, built: " +
+                        ", ".join(depends_built))
 
     return (depends, depends_built)
 
diff --git a/pmb/parse/arguments.py b/pmb/parse/arguments.py
index 02b1ef06..bcbc3ab7 100644
--- a/pmb/parse/arguments.py
+++ b/pmb/parse/arguments.py
@@ -496,6 +496,9 @@ def arguments():
                        " you don't need to build and install the kernel. But it"
                        " is incompatible with how Alpine's abuild handles it.",
                        dest="ignore_depends")
+    build.add_argument("-n", "--no-depends", action="store_true",
+                       help="never build dependencies, abort instead",
+                       dest="no_depends")
     build.add_argument("--envkernel", action="store_true",
                        help="Create an apk package from the build output of"
                        " a kernel compiled with envkernel.sh.")
diff --git a/test/test_build_package.py b/test/test_build_package.py
index 92fcb30b..f0549013 100644
--- a/test/test_build_package.py
+++ b/test/test_build_package.py
@@ -174,6 +174,26 @@ def test_build_depends(args, monkeypatch):
     assert func(args, apkbuild, "armhf", False) == (["a", "b"], ["a", "b"])
 
 
+def test_build_depends_no_binary_error(args, monkeypatch):
+    # Shortcut and fake apkbuild
+    func = pmb.build._package.build_depends
+    apkbuild = {"pkgname": "test", "depends": ["some-invalid-package-here"],
+                "makedepends": [], "checkdepends": [], "subpackages": [],
+                "options": []}
+
+    # pmbootstrap build --no-depends
+    args.no_depends = True
+
+    # Missing binary package error
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as e:
+        func(args, apkbuild, "armhf", True)
+    assert str(e.value).startswith("Missing binary package for dependency")
+
+    # All depends exist
+    apkbuild["depends"] = ["alpine-base"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild, "armhf", True) == (["alpine-base"], [])
+
+
 def test_is_necessary_warn_depends(args, monkeypatch):
     # Shortcut and fake apkbuild
     func = pmb.build._package.is_necessary_warn_depends