diff --git a/lib/transaction_ops.c b/lib/transaction_ops.c
index cbdc9721..b284cf87 100644
--- a/lib/transaction_ops.c
+++ b/lib/transaction_ops.c
@@ -260,8 +260,7 @@ xbps_autoupdate(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 
 	if (rv == 0) {
 		if (xhp->flags & XBPS_FLAG_DOWNLOAD_ONLY) {
-			xhp->flags |= XBPS_FLAG_FORCE_REMOVE_REVDEPS;
-			return 1;
+			return 0;
 		}
 		/* a new xbps version is available, check its revdeps */
 		rdeps = xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg_revdeps(xhp, "xbps");
@@ -382,6 +381,9 @@ xbps_transaction_update_pkg(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *pkg)
 	}
 
 	rdeps = xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg_revdeps(xhp, pkg);
+	if (xhp->flags & XBPS_FLAG_DOWNLOAD_ONLY) {
+		rdeps = NULL;
+	}
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < xbps_array_count(rdeps); i++)  {
 		const char *curpkgver = NULL;
 		char *curpkgn;
@@ -423,6 +425,9 @@ xbps_transaction_install_pkg(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *pkg,
 	}
 
 	rdeps = xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg_revdeps(xhp, pkg);
+	if (xhp->flags & XBPS_FLAG_DOWNLOAD_ONLY) {
+		rdeps = NULL;
+	}
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < xbps_array_count(rdeps); i++)  {
 		const char *curpkgver = NULL;
 		char *curpkgn;