diff --git a/third_party/build.sh b/third_party/build.sh
index 765b4eaea3..68c953eb0d 100755
--- a/third_party/build.sh
+++ b/third_party/build.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ if [ ! $ITEM ] || [ $ITEM == xapian ] ; then
   cd xapian
   git clean -f -x -d
   git checkout -B build  # needed so sub-checkouts can find their references
-  ./bootstrap
+  ./bootstrap --download-tools=never
   ./configure --enable-silent-rules --prefix=$PREFIX
   cd xapian-core
   make $MAKEOPTS