diff --git a/lib/producer.ts b/lib/producer.ts
index ab87f998..76759cfa 100644
--- a/lib/producer.ts
+++ b/lib/producer.ts
@@ -197,12 +197,36 @@ function findPackageJson(nodeFile: string) {
   return dir;
 }
 
+function getPrebuildEnvPrefix(pkgName: string): string {
+  return `npm_config_${(pkgName || '')
+    .replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/g, '_')
+    .replace(/^_/, '')}`;
+}
+
 function nativePrebuildInstall(target: Target, nodeFile: string) {
   const prebuildInstall = path.join(
     __dirname,
     '../node_modules/.bin/prebuild-install',
   );
   const dir = findPackageJson(nodeFile);
+  const packageJson = JSON.parse(
+    fs.readFileSync(path.join(dir, 'package.json'), { encoding: 'utf-8' }),
+  );
+
+  // only try prebuild-install for packages that actually use it or if
+  // explicitly configured via environment variables
+  const envPrefix = getPrebuildEnvPrefix(packageJson.name);
+  if (
+    packageJson.dependencies?.['prebuild-install'] == null &&
+    ![
+      `${envPrefix}_binary_host`,
+      `${envPrefix}_binary_host_mirror`,
+      `${envPrefix}_local_prebuilds`,
+    ].some((i) => i in process.env)
+  ) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // parse the target node version from the binaryPath
   const nodeVersion = path.basename(target.binaryPath).split('-')[1];
 
@@ -221,9 +245,7 @@ function nativePrebuildInstall(target: Target, nodeFile: string) {
     fs.copyFileSync(nodeFile, `${nodeFile}.bak`);
   }
 
-  const napiVersions = JSON.parse(
-    fs.readFileSync(path.join(dir, 'package.json'), { encoding: 'utf-8' }),
-  )?.binary?.napi_versions;
+  const napiVersions = packageJson?.binary?.napi_versions;
 
   const options = [
     '--platform',
@@ -461,7 +483,7 @@ export default function producer({
               try {
                 const platformFile = nativePrebuildInstall(target, stripe.file);
 
-                if (fs.existsSync(platformFile)) {
+                if (platformFile && fs.existsSync(platformFile)) {
                   return cb(
                     null,
                     pipeMayCompressToNewMeter(