diff --git a/src/tools/rust-installer/src/generator.rs b/src/tools/rust-installer/src/generator.rs
index b101e67d8df7f..1586760468726 100644
--- a/src/tools/rust-installer/src/generator.rs
+++ b/src/tools/rust-installer/src/generator.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ actor! {
         /// The formats used to compress the tarball
         #[arg(value_name = "FORMAT", default_value_t)]
         compression_formats: CompressionFormats,
+
+        /// Indicate whether to leave the prepared directories without generating tarballs
+        prepare_only: bool,
     }
 }
 
@@ -105,17 +108,19 @@ impl Generator {
             .output_script(path_to_str(&output_script)?.into());
         scripter.run()?;
 
-        // Make the tarballs
-        create_dir_all(&self.output_dir)?;
-        let output = Path::new(&self.output_dir).join(&self.package_name);
-        let mut tarballer = Tarballer::default();
-        tarballer
-            .work_dir(self.work_dir)
-            .input(self.package_name)
-            .output(path_to_str(&output)?.into())
-            .compression_profile(self.compression_profile)
-            .compression_formats(self.compression_formats);
-        tarballer.run()?;
+        if !self.prepare_only {
+            // Make the tarballs
+            create_dir_all(&self.output_dir)?;
+            let output = Path::new(&self.output_dir).join(&self.package_name);
+            let mut tarballer = Tarballer::default();
+            tarballer
+                .work_dir(self.work_dir)
+                .input(self.package_name)
+                .output(path_to_str(&output)?.into())
+                .compression_profile(self.compression_profile)
+                .compression_formats(self.compression_formats);
+            tarballer.run()?;
+        }
 
         Ok(())
     }