diff --git a/tools/create_virtual_hardware.sh b/tools/create_virtual_hardware.sh
index b33c5a991b0..60fb1b519a2 100755
--- a/tools/create_virtual_hardware.sh
+++ b/tools/create_virtual_hardware.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ set -x
 SOURCE_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )"
 OMICRON_TOP="$SOURCE_DIR/.."
 
+MARKER=/etc/opt/oxide/NO_INSTALL
+if [[ -f "$MARKER" ]]; then
+    echo "This system has the marker file $MARKER, aborting." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # Select the physical link over which to simulate the Chelsio links
 if [[ $# -ge 1 ]]; then
     PHYSICAL_LINK="$1"
diff --git a/tools/destroy_virtual_hardware.sh b/tools/destroy_virtual_hardware.sh
index ab8e475a16a..3dd9a154af6 100755
--- a/tools/destroy_virtual_hardware.sh
+++ b/tools/destroy_virtual_hardware.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ SOURCE_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )"
 cd "${SOURCE_DIR}/.."
 OMICRON_TOP="$PWD"
 
+MARKER=/etc/opt/oxide/NO_INSTALL
+if [[ -f "$MARKER" ]]; then
+    echo "This system has the marker file $MARKER, aborting." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if [[ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]]; then
     echo "This must be run as root"
     exit 1
diff --git a/tools/install_opte.sh b/tools/install_opte.sh
index 2098a48a927..9852d0303dc 100755
--- a/tools/install_opte.sh
+++ b/tools/install_opte.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ set -e
 set -u
 set -x
 
+MARKER=/etc/opt/oxide/NO_INSTALL
+if [[ -f "$MARKER" ]]; then
+    echo "This system has the marker file $MARKER, aborting." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 if [[ "$(uname)" != "SunOS" ]]; then
     echo "This script is intended for Helios only"
 fi
diff --git a/tools/install_prerequisites.sh b/tools/install_prerequisites.sh
index 939f87103b9..7f3f4aed19d 100755
--- a/tools/install_prerequisites.sh
+++ b/tools/install_prerequisites.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 set -eu
 
+MARKER=/etc/opt/oxide/NO_INSTALL
+if [[ -f "$MARKER" ]]; then
+  echo "This system has the marker file $MARKER, aborting." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 # Set the CWD to Omicron's source.
 SOURCE_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )"
 cd "${SOURCE_DIR}/.."