diff --git a/lisp/cli/packages.el b/lisp/cli/packages.el
index 602b6de33..09f72dc32 100644
--- a/lisp/cli/packages.el
+++ b/lisp/cli/packages.el
@@ -300,7 +300,8 @@ list remains lean."
                        (and (eq (car-safe build) :not)
                             (setq want-byte-compile (not want-byte-compile)
                                   want-native-compile (not want-native-compile)))
-                       (unless (featurep 'native-compile)
+                       (when (or (not (featurep 'native-compile))
+                                 (not straight--native-comp-available))
                          (setq want-native-compile nil))
                        (and (or want-byte-compile want-native-compile)
                             (or (file-newer-than-file-p repo-dir build-dir)