diff --git a/lib/install.js b/lib/install.js
index b870532880..06e82871f7 100644
--- a/lib/install.js
+++ b/lib/install.js
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ function install (fs, gyp, argv, callback) {
         var installVersionPath = path.resolve(devDir, 'installVersion')
         fs.writeFile(installVersionPath, gyp.package.installVersion + '\n', deref)
 
-        // Only download SHASUMS.txt if not using tarPath override
-        if (!tarPath) {
+        // Only download SHASUMS.txt if we downloaded something in need of SHA verification
+        if (!tarPath || win) {
           // download SHASUMS.txt
           async++
           downloadShasums(deref)