diff --git a/build-cmd.sh b/build-cmd.sh
index 1efeaba9..6fe7019b 100755
--- a/build-cmd.sh
+++ b/build-cmd.sh
@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@ fi
 top="$(pwd)"
 stage="$top/stage"
 
-[ -f "$stage"/packages/include/zlib/zlib.h ] || \
-{ echo "You haven't yet run 'autobuild install'." 1>&2; exit 1; }
-
 # load autobuild provided shell functions and variables
 source_environment_tempfile="$stage/source_environment.sh"
 "$autobuild" source_environment > "$source_environment_tempfile"