diff --git a/install-boost.sh b/install-boost.sh
index 39492d200..c6ccc6cfe 100755
--- a/install-boost.sh
+++ b/install-boost.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ download_boost_source() {
 boost_cxxflags='-arch arm64 -arch x86_64'
 
 build_boost_macos() {
-    [[ -n "${boost_libs}" ]] || return
     cd "${BOOST_ROOT}"
     ./bootstrap.sh --with-toolset=clang --with-libraries="${boost_libs}"
     ./b2 -q -a link=static architecture=arm cxxflags="${boost_cxxflags}" stage
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ if [[ $# -eq 0 || " $* " =~ ' --download ' ]]; then
     ./bootstrap.sh
     ./b2 headers
 fi
-if [[ $# -eq 0 || " $* " =~ ' --build ' ]]; then
+if [[ ($# -eq 0 || " $* " =~ ' --build ') && -n "${boost_libs}" ]]; then
     if [[ "$OSTYPE" =~ 'darwin' ]]; then
         build_boost_macos
     fi