diff --git a/pisi/atomicoperations.py b/pisi/atomicoperations.py
index 60f4a751..d5b60436 100644
--- a/pisi/atomicoperations.py
+++ b/pisi/atomicoperations.py
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ class Install(AtomicOperation):
         self.pkginfo = self.metadata.package
 
     def install(self, ask_reinstall = True):
+        if ctx.get_option('fetch_only'):
+            return
+
         "entry point"
         ctx.ui.status(_('Installing %s, version %s, release %s, build %s') %
                 (self.pkginfo.name, self.pkginfo.version,
diff --git a/pisi/cli/commands.py b/pisi/cli/commands.py
index 80b69d89..10246bc6 100644
--- a/pisi/cli/commands.py
+++ b/pisi/cli/commands.py
@@ -594,6 +594,8 @@ expanded to package names.
                      default=False, help=_("Reinstall already installed packages"))
         group.add_option("--ignore-file-conflicts", action="store_true",
                      default=False, help=_("Ignore file conflicts"))
+        group.add_option("-f", "--fetch-only", action="store_true",
+                     default=False, help=_("Fetch upgrades but do not install."))
         self.parser.add_option_group(group)
 
     def run(self):