diff --git a/pkg/action/install.go b/pkg/action/install.go
index 24006b69e..173a8b08b 100644
--- a/pkg/action/install.go
+++ b/pkg/action/install.go
@@ -147,8 +147,11 @@ func (i *Install) installCRDs(crds []*chart.File) error {
 //
 // If DryRun is set to true, this will prepare the release, but not install it
 func (i *Install) Run(chrt *chart.Chart, vals map[string]interface{}) (*release.Release, error) {
-	if err := i.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	// Check reachability of cluster unless in client-only mode (e.g. `helm template` without `--validate`)
+	if !i.ClientOnly {
+		if err := i.cfg.KubeClient.IsReachable(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	if err := i.availableName(); err != nil {