diff --git a/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt b/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
index 51cb414c2fc..99d8c80c5e3 100644
--- a/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
+++ b/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.compiler.KotlinCoreEnvironment
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.CompilerConfiguration
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.Services
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.addKotlinSourceRoots
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.kotlinSourceRoots
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.konan.target.CompilerOutputKind
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.konan.target.TargetManager
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.utils.KotlinPaths
@@ -39,6 +40,10 @@ class K2Native : CLICompiler<K2NativeCompilerArguments>() {
 
     override fun doExecute(@NotNull arguments: K2NativeCompilerArguments, @NotNull configuration: CompilerConfiguration, @NotNull rootDisposable: Disposable, @Nullable paths: KotlinPaths?): ExitCode {
 
+        if (arguments.freeArgs.isEmpty() && !arguments.isUsefulWithoutFreeArgs) {
+            configuration.report(ERROR, "You have not specified any compilation arguments. No output has been produced.")
+        }
+
         val environment = KotlinCoreEnvironment.createForProduction(rootDisposable,
             configuration, EnvironmentConfigFiles.NATIVE_CONFIG_FILES)
         val project = environment.project
@@ -50,16 +55,12 @@ class K2Native : CLICompiler<K2NativeCompilerArguments>() {
             return ExitCode.COMPILATION_ERROR
         }
 
-        if (arguments.freeArgs.isEmpty() && !arguments.isUsefulWithoutFreeArgs) {
-            configuration.report(ERROR, "You have not specified any compilation arguments. No output has been produced.")
-        }
-
         // TODO: catch Errors and IllegalStateException.
         return ExitCode.OK
     }
 
     val K2NativeCompilerArguments.isUsefulWithoutFreeArgs: Boolean
-        get() = this.listTargets || this.listPhases
+        get() = this.listTargets || this.listPhases || this.checkDependencies
 
     fun Array<String>?.toNonNullList(): List<String> {
         return this?.asList<String>() ?: listOf<String>()
@@ -129,6 +130,13 @@ class K2Native : CLICompiler<K2NativeCompilerArguments>() {
                 put(TIME_PHASES, arguments.timePhases)
 
                 put(ENABLE_ASSERTIONS, arguments.enableAssertions)
+
+                // We need to download dependencies only if we use them ( = there are files to compile).
+                put(CHECK_DEPENDENCIES, if (configuration.kotlinSourceRoots.isNotEmpty()) {
+                        true
+                    } else {
+                        arguments.checkDependencies
+                    })
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt b/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
index fe405514e7d..b790f0e4d12 100644
--- a/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
+++ b/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
@@ -82,12 +82,15 @@ class K2NativeCompilerArguments : CommonCompilerArguments() {
     // Make sure to prepend them with a double dash.
     // Keep the list lexically sorted.
 
-    @Argument(value = "--enable", valueDescription = "<Phase>", description = "Enable backend phase")
-    var enablePhases: Array<String>? = null
+    @Argument(value = "--check_dependencies", description = "Check dependencies and download the missing ones")
+    var checkDependencies: Boolean = false
 
     @Argument(value = "--disable", valueDescription = "<Phase>", description = "Disable backend phase")
     var disablePhases: Array<String>? = null
 
+    @Argument(value = "--enable", valueDescription = "<Phase>", description = "Enable backend phase")
+    var enablePhases: Array<String>? = null
+
     @Argument(value = "--list_phases", description = "List all backend phases")
     var listPhases: Boolean = false
 
diff --git a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfig.kt b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfig.kt
index 0376d03ac0b..29024c7bd7c 100644
--- a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfig.kt
+++ b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfig.kt
@@ -49,14 +49,16 @@ class KonanConfig(val project: Project, val configuration: CompilerConfiguration
         }
     }
 
-    private fun Distribution.prepareDependencies() {
-        DependencyProcessor(java.io.File(dependenciesDir), targetProperties).run()
+    private fun Distribution.prepareDependencies(checkDependencies: Boolean) {
+        if (checkDependencies) {
+            DependencyProcessor(java.io.File(dependenciesDir), targetProperties).run()
+        }
     }
 
     internal val distribution = Distribution(targetManager, 
         configuration.get(KonanConfigKeys.PROPERTY_FILE),
         configuration.get(KonanConfigKeys.RUNTIME_FILE)).apply {
-        prepareDependencies()
+        prepareDependencies(configuration.getBoolean(KonanConfigKeys.CHECK_DEPENDENCIES))
     }
 
     private val produce = configuration.get(KonanConfigKeys.PRODUCE)!!
diff --git a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
index 8be963dd725..493a462da38 100644
--- a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
+++ b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class KonanConfigKeys {
         // Keep the list lexically sorted.
         val ABI_VERSION: CompilerConfigurationKey<Int> 
                 = CompilerConfigurationKey.create("current abi version")
+        val CHECK_DEPENDENCIES: CompilerConfigurationKey<Boolean>
+                = CompilerConfigurationKey.create("check dependencies and download the missing ones")
         val DEBUG: CompilerConfigurationKey<Boolean>
                 = CompilerConfigurationKey.create("add debug information")
         val DISABLED_PHASES: CompilerConfigurationKey<List<String>>