diff --git a/nix/libstore/misc.cc b/nix/libstore/misc.cc
index 6ecf878..bdb7a6d 100644
--- a/nix/libstore/misc.cc
+++ b/nix/libstore/misc.cc
@@ -67,6 +67,15 @@ Path findOutput(const Derivation & drv, string id)
 }
 
 
+/* Return true if we are allowed to substitute DRV.  This is the case, unless
+   DRV specifies 'substitution = "0"' in its environment.  */
+static bool substitutionAllowed(const Derivation & drv)
+{
+    auto env = drv.env;
+    auto i = env.find("substitution");
+    return i == env.end() || i->second != "0";
+}
+
 void queryMissing(StoreAPI & store, const PathSet & targets,
     PathSet & willBuild, PathSet & willSubstitute, PathSet & unknown,
     unsigned long long & downloadSize, unsigned long long & narSize)
@@ -120,7 +129,7 @@ void queryMissing(StoreAPI & store, const PathSet & targets,
                 if (invalid.empty()) continue;
 
                 todoDrv.insert(*i);
-                if (settings.useSubstitutes && !willBuildLocally(drv))
+                if (settings.useSubstitutes && substitutionAllowed(drv))
                     query.insert(invalid.begin(), invalid.end());
             }
 
@@ -144,7 +153,7 @@ void queryMissing(StoreAPI & store, const PathSet & targets,
 
             PathSet outputs;
             bool mustBuild = false;
-            if (settings.useSubstitutes && !willBuildLocally(drv)) {
+            if (settings.useSubstitutes && substitutionAllowed(drv)) {
                 foreach (DerivationOutputs::iterator, j, drv.outputs) {
                     if (!wantOutput(j->first, i2.second)) continue;
                     if (!store.isValidPath(j->second.path)) {