diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index c3cd7e5db10..806c6480f21 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -712,6 +712,10 @@ case "$XBPS_TARGET" in
         install_base_chroot ${XBPS_TARGET_PKG:=$XBPS_MACHINE}
         ;;
     bootstrap)
+        if [ -n "$XBPS_CHECK_PKGS" ]; then
+            msg_error "xbps-src: disable tests for bootstrap\n"
+            exit 1
+        fi
         # base-chroot building on host
         # check for required host utils
         check_reqhost_utils bootstrap