diff --git a/SConscript.radiant b/SConscript.radiant
index c2378f0b..d149e081 100644
--- a/SConscript.radiant
+++ b/SConscript.radiant
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ proj = utils.vcxproj( os.path.join( GetLaunchDir(), 'radiant/radiant.vcxproj' )
 
 radiant = env.Program( 'radiant.bin', lib_objects + [ os.path.join( 'radiant', i ) for i in proj.getSourceFiles() ] )
 
+AddOption('--no-packs',
+	dest='no_packs',
+	action='store_true',
+	help="don't fetch game packs")
+
 Return( 'radiant' )
-
-
diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index c629af0e..8f7ccea2 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ else:
 	Help(
 """
 ======================================================================
-ZeroRadiant build system quick help
+GtkRadiant build system quick help
 
 You need scons v0.97.0d20070918.r2446 or newer
 
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ Default build (release), just run scons at the toplevel
 
 debug build:
 $ scons config=debug
+
+build using 8 parallel build jobs
+but do not download any game packs
+$ scons -j8 --no-packs
 ======================================================================
 """ )
 	Return()
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 4dc31d39..9fae86b4 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -298,7 +298,8 @@ class Config:
             pass
         else:
             # special case, fetch external paks under the local install directory
-            if not Environment().GetOption('clean'):
+            env = Environment()
+            if not env.GetOption('clean') and not env.GetOption('no_packs'):
                 self.FetchGamePaks( self.install_directory )
         # NOTE: unrelated to self.setup_platforms - grab support files and binaries and install them
         if ( self.platform == 'Windows' ):