diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
index f527ce1f897..177944e1c03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -105,8 +105,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check file conflicts
         if: matrix.config.arch == 'x86_64' # the arch indexed in xlocate
         run: |
-          xlocate -S &&
-          common/scripts/lint-conflicts $HOME/hostdir/binpkgs
+          if [ -s /tmp/templates ]; then
+              xlocate -S &&
+              common/scripts/lint-conflicts $HOME/hostdir/binpkgs
+          fi
 
       - name: Verify repository state
         run: |