diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d22589e..11909dd 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ categories = ["cryptography::cryptocurrencies", "development-tools::testing"]
 [dependencies]
 bitcoind = { version = "0.34.0" }
 electrum-client = { version = "0.19.0", default-features = false }
-nix = { version = "0.25.0" }
 log = "0.4"
 which = "4.2.5"
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5efb9da..4c49da9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ if let Ok(exe_path) = electrsd::exe_path() {
 
 Startup options could be configured via the `Conf` struct using `electrsD::with_conf` or `electrsD::from_downloaded_with_conf`.
 
+## Nix
+
+For determinisim, in nix you cannot hit the internet within the `build.rs`. Moreover, some downstream crates cannot remove the auto-download feature from their dev-deps. In this case you can set the `ELECTRSD_SKIP_DOWNLOAD` env var and provide the electrs executable in the `PATH` (or skip the test execution).
+
 ## Issues with traditional approach
 
 I used integration testing based on external bash script launching needed external processes, there are many issues with this approach like:
diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
index b8a3a81..727a139 100644
--- a/build.rs
+++ b/build.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ mod download {
     }
 
     pub fn download() {
+        if std::env::var_os("ELECTRSD_SKIP_DOWNLOAD").is_some() {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if !HAS_FEATURE {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5892230..3a737b3 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -346,9 +346,9 @@ impl Drop for ElectrsD {
     }
 }
 
-/// Provide the electrs executable path if a version feature has been specified
+/// Provide the electrs executable path if a version feature has been specified and `ELECTRSD_SKIP_DOWNLOAD` is not set.
 pub fn downloaded_exe_path() -> Option<String> {
-    if versions::HAS_FEATURE {
+    if versions::HAS_FEATURE && std::env::var_os("ELECTRSD_SKIP_DOWNLOAD").is_none() {
         Some(format!(
             "{}/electrs/{}/electrs",
             env!("OUT_DIR"),