diff --git a/router/client/build.rs b/router/client/build.rs
index e71672738..7a6dab0bc 100644
--- a/router/client/build.rs
+++ b/router/client/build.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed=../../proto/generate.proto");
     // conditionally compile proto files (avoid when bundling python package)
     let skip_build = std::env::var("SKIP_BUILD").is_ok();
-    if skip_build {
+    if !skip_build {
         fs::create_dir("src/pb").unwrap_or(());
 
         let mut config = prost_build::Config::new();