diff --git a/binding.gyp b/binding.gyp
index bb22d6ae..cdbcc274 100644
--- a/binding.gyp
+++ b/binding.gyp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   "variables": {
-    "realm_node_build_as_library%": "0"
+    "realm_node_build_as_library%": "0",
+    "realm_download_binaries%": "1"
   },
   "includes": [
     "src/node/gyp/target_defaults.gypi",
diff --git a/scripts/download-core.sh b/scripts/download-core.sh
index 4d0ab6c9..6c83d962 100755
--- a/scripts/download-core.sh
+++ b/scripts/download-core.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ fi
 
 # The 'node' argument will result in realm-node build being downloaded.
 if [ "$1" = 'node' ]; then
+    ENABLE_SYNC="$2"
     CORE_DIR="core-node"
     SYNC_DIR='node-sync'
 
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ if [ "$1" = 'node' ]; then
     SYNC_EXTRACT="unzip"
     EXTRACTED_DIR="realm-sync-node-cocoa-$REALM_SYNC_VERSION"
 else
+    ENABLE_SYNC="yes" # FIXME: This means that both core and sync will be downloaded for non "node" targets.
+    # Should be 0 or 1. We do not need to download both
     CORE_DIR='core'
     PLATFORM_TAG=""
     SYNC_DIR='sync'
@@ -94,7 +97,19 @@ check_release_notes() {
     grep -Fqi "$REALM_CORE_VERSION RELEASE NOTES" "$@"
 }
 
-if [ -z "$REALM_CORE_PREFIX" ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_CORE=1
+
+if ! [ -z "$REALM_CORE_PREFIX" ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_CORE=0
+echo "Skipping the core download because REALM_CORE_PREFIX is defined."
+fi
+
+if [ "$ENABLE_SYNC" == 1 ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_CORE=0
+echo "Skipping the core download because ENABLE_SYNC is true."
+fi
+
+if [ "$DOWNLOAD_CORE" == 1 ]; then
     if [ ! -e "vendor/$CORE_DIR" ]; then
         download_core $CORE_DIR $REALM_CORE_VERSION $CORE_DOWNLOAD_FILE core "tar -xzf" core
     elif [ -d "vendor/$CORE_DIR" -a -d ../realm-core -a ! -L "vendor/$CORE_DIR" ]; then
@@ -117,11 +132,20 @@ if [ -z "$REALM_CORE_PREFIX" ]; then
     else
         echo "The core library seems to be up to date."
     fi
-else
-    echo "Skipping core the download because REALM_CORE_PREFIX is defined."
 fi
 
-if [ -z "$REALM_SYNC_PREFIX" ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_SYNC=1
+if ! [ -z "$REALM_SYNC_PREFIX" ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_SYNC=0
+echo "Skipping the sync download because REALM_SYNC_PREFIX is defined."
+fi
+
+if [ "$ENABLE_SYNC" == 0 ]; then
+DOWNLOAD_SYNC=0
+echo "Skipping the sync download because ENABLE_SYNC is false."
+fi
+
+if [ "$DOWNLOAD_SYNC" == 1 ]; then
     if [ -n "$SYNC_DOWNLOAD_FILE" ];then
         if [ ! -e "vendor/$SYNC_DIR" ]; then
             download_core $SYNC_DIR $REALM_SYNC_VERSION $SYNC_DOWNLOAD_FILE sync "$SYNC_EXTRACT" $EXTRACTED_DIR
@@ -146,6 +170,4 @@ if [ -z "$REALM_SYNC_PREFIX" ]; then
             echo "The sync library seems to be up to date."
         fi
     fi
-else
-    echo "Skipping the sync download because REALM_SYNC_PREFIX is defined."
 fi
diff --git a/src/node/gyp/realm.gyp b/src/node/gyp/realm.gyp
index e89775f3..96c200f4 100644
--- a/src/node/gyp/realm.gyp
+++ b/src/node/gyp/realm.gyp
@@ -82,14 +82,6 @@
       },
       "target_name": "vendored-realm",
       "type": "none",
-      "actions": [
-        {
-          "action_name": "download-realm",
-           "inputs": [ ],
-           "outputs": [ "<(module_root_dir)/vendor/core-node" ],
-           "action": [ "<(module_root_dir)/scripts/download-core.sh", "node" ]
-        }
-      ],
       "conditions": [
         ["realm_enable_sync", {
           "all_dependent_settings": {
@@ -102,9 +94,18 @@
             "library_dirs": [ "<(module_root_dir)/vendor/core-node" ]
           },
 
+        }],
+        ["realm_download_binaries", {
+          "actions": [
+            {
+              "action_name": "download-realm",
+              "inputs": [ ],
+              "outputs": [ "<(module_root_dir)/vendor/core-node" ],
+              "action": [ "<(module_root_dir)/scripts/download-core.sh", "node", "<(realm_enable_sync)" ]
+            }
+          ]
         }]
       ]
-
     }
   ]
 }