diff --git a/sky/tools/gn b/sky/tools/gn
index 71ab12a4d3cbc..019b2d8d608bd 100755
--- a/sky/tools/gn
+++ b/sky/tools/gn
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ def to_gn_args(args):
     if aot:
         gn_args['dart_target_arch'] = gn_args['target_cpu']
 
-    gn_args['dart_experimental_interpreter'] = args.runtime_mode == 'debug'
+    # On iOS Devices, use the Dart bytecode interpreter so we don't incur
+    # snapshotting and linking costs of the precompiler during development.
+    # We can still use the JIT on the simulator though.
+    use_dbc = args.target_os == 'ios' and not args.simulator and args.runtime_mode == 'debug'
+    gn_args['dart_experimental_interpreter'] = use_dbc
 
     gn_args['flutter_product_mode'] = (gn_args['dart_runtime_mode'] == 'release')