diff --git a/pkg/downloader/manager.go b/pkg/downloader/manager.go
index d41b8fdb4..06baf728b 100644
--- a/pkg/downloader/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/downloader/manager.go
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ func (m *Manager) Build() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if c.Metadata.Dependencies == nil && m.Debug {
+		fmt.Fprintln(m.Out, "No dependencies found to build")
+		return nil
+	}
 	// If a lock file is found, run a build from that. Otherwise, just do
 	// an update.
 	lock := c.Lock