diff --git a/src/libstore/parsed-derivations.cc b/src/libstore/parsed-derivations.cc
index e7b7202d4..c5c3ae3dc 100644
--- a/src/libstore/parsed-derivations.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/parsed-derivations.cc
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ bool ParsedDerivation::canBuildLocally(Store & localStore) const
         && !drv.isBuiltin())
         return false;
 
+    if (settings.maxBuildJobs.get() == 0
+        && !drv.isBuiltin())
+        return false;
+
     for (auto & feature : getRequiredSystemFeatures())
         if (!localStore.systemFeatures.get().count(feature)) return false;