diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2b9d240e..770bc5e7 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1092,11 +1092,12 @@ def c(base_path: str, **kw: object) -> None:
 
 
 def create_linux_bundle_gunk(ddir: str, libdir_name: str) -> None:
-    if not os.path.exists('docs/_build/html'):
-        make = 'gmake' if is_freebsd else 'make'
-        run_tool([make, 'docs'])
-    copy_man_pages(ddir)
-    copy_html_docs(ddir)
+    if not os.getenv('KITTY_NO_DOCS'):
+        if not os.path.exists('docs/_build/html'):
+            make = 'gmake' if is_freebsd else 'make'
+            run_tool([make, 'docs'])
+        copy_man_pages(ddir)
+        copy_html_docs(ddir)
     for (icdir, ext) in {'256x256': 'png', 'scalable': 'svg'}.items():
         icdir = os.path.join(ddir, 'share', 'icons', 'hicolor', icdir, 'apps')
         safe_makedirs(icdir)