diff --git a/backportpackage b/backportpackage
index e3cd8b2..5cbdf28 100755
--- a/backportpackage
+++ b/backportpackage
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ def parse(args):
     opts, args = p.parse_args(args)
     if len(args) != 1:
         p.error('You must specify a single source package or a .dsc URL/path')
-    if not opts.upload and not opts.build:
-        p.error('Nothing to do')
+    if not opts.upload and not opts.workdir:
+        p.error('Please specify either a working dir or an upload target')
 
     return opts, args
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 5fa76b9..0d04b5e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.108) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   [ Evan Broder ]
   * backportpackage: new script for testing backport requests in a PPA.
     - Include -y option to skip prompts (LP: #691895)
+    - Allow for just building the source package without a test build or
+      upload (LP: #691896)
   * sponsor-patch: Add --update option to make sure build environment is
     up to date (LP: #689605)