diff --git a/INSTALL.txt b/INSTALL.txt
index c06c57119d..cf1bb09ad0 100644
--- a/INSTALL.txt
+++ b/INSTALL.txt
@@ -145,6 +145,13 @@ makefile and the `raco setup' part, use
 which recurs with `make -j <n> JOB_OPTIONS="-j <n>"'. Setting `CPUS'
 also works with `make unix-style'.
 
+Use `make as-is' (or `nmake win32-as-is') to perform the same build
+actions as `make in-place`, but without consulting any package
+catalogs or package sources to install or update packages. In other
+words, use `make as-is' to rebuild after local changes that could
+include changes to the Racket core. (If you change only packages, then
+`raco setup' should suffice.)
+
 If you need even more control over the build, carry on to "Even More
 Instructions: Building Racket Pieces".
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a8507ba1a3..e4362dc3ad 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -73,6 +73,24 @@ win32-in-place:
 	$(WIN32_PLAIN_RACO) setup --only-foreign-libs $(ALL_PLT_SETUP_OPTIONS)
 	$(WIN32_PLAIN_RACO) setup $(ALL_PLT_SETUP_OPTIONS)
 
+# Rebuild without consulting catalogs or package sources:
+
+as-is:
+	if [ "$(CPUS)" = "" ] ; \
+         then $(MAKE) plain-as-is PKGS="$(PKGS)" ; \
+         else $(MAKE) cpus-as-is CPUS="$(CPUS)" PKGS="$(PKGS)" ; fi
+
+cpus-as-is:
+	$(MAKE) -j $(CPUS) plain-as-is JOB_OPTIONS="-j $(CPUS)" PKGS="$(PKGS)"
+
+plain-as-is:
+	$(MAKE) base
+	$(PLAIN_RACO) setup $(ALL_PLT_SETUP_OPTIONS)
+
+win32-as-is:
+	$(MAKE) base
+	$(WIN32_PLAIN_RACO) setup $(ALL_PLT_SETUP_OPTIONS)
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------
 # Unix-style build (Unix and Mac OS X, only)