diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-image.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-image.yml
index 7602376b..1c6858aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-image.yml
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ jobs:
             }))
   build-image:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    
+    # only build if we can push to at least one registry
+    if: needs.define-variables.outputs.images != ''
     needs: define-variables
     # Sets the permissions granted to the `GITHUB_TOKEN` for the actions in this job.
     permissions: