diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 02fdcc9e..54f0a0a3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ clean-tarball:
 
 # Create a tarball, include the cargo dependencies if OFFLINE is set to 1
 tarball: clean-tarball
-	cd apps/gpgui-helper && pnpm install && pnpm build
+	if [ $(BUILD_FE) -eq 1 ]; then \
+		cd apps/gpgui-helper && pnpm install && pnpm build; \
+	fi
 
 	# Remove node_modules to reduce the tarball size
 	rm -rf apps/gpgui-helper/node_modules