diff --git a/standalone/windows/build-simple.sh b/standalone/windows/build-simple.sh
index bb63b4fa20..9b26e51899 100755
--- a/standalone/windows/build-simple.sh
+++ b/standalone/windows/build-simple.sh
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ withcygpreferred () {
 # Install haskell dependencies.
 # cabal install is not run in cygwin, because we don't want configure scripts
 # for haskell libraries to link them with the cygwin library.
-cabal update || true
-cabal install --only-dependencies || true
+if ! cabal install --only-dependencies; then
+	cabal update || true
+	cabal install --only-dependencies
+fi
 
 # Build git-annex
 if [ ! -e "dist/setup-config" ]; then