diff --git a/make-includes/build_lecture_rules.make b/make-includes/build_lecture_rules.make
index e730b4e..a6b9a80 100755
--- a/make-includes/build_lecture_rules.make
+++ b/make-includes/build_lecture_rules.make
@@ -252,13 +252,18 @@
 # at the other end. That is, something like "images/foo.pdf" will go into
 # the installation directory as "foo.pdf", not "images/foo.pdf".
 #
+# If the variable NOSYNC is set (to anything), then files won't be synchronised
+# with Blackboard.
+#
 install:
 	@$(ANNOUNCE) "Deploying files into $(INSTALL_DIRECTORY)"
 	@$(TEST) -d $(HANDBOOK_INSTALL_ROOT)
 	@$(MKDIR_P) $(INSTALL_DIRECTORY)
 	@$(foreach f,$(INSTALL_FILES),if $(TEST) ! -f $(INSTALL_DIRECTORY)/$(f) -o $(f) -nt $(INSTALL_DIRECTORY)/$(f); then $(ECHO) "Installing $(f)"; $(CP) $(f) $(INSTALL_DIRECTORY); fi;)
+ifndef NODEPLOY
 	@$(ANNOUNCE) "Synchronising with Blackboard"
 	@$(SITECOPY) --update Blackboard$(PAPER_NUMBER)
+endif
 
 
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