diff --git a/pyrex.ini b/pyrex.ini
index cfe7cf8..3611b23 100644
--- a/pyrex.ini
+++ b/pyrex.ini
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ confversion = @CONFVERSION@
 # repository
 %buildlocal = 0
 
+# If both buildlocal and norebuild are set to 1 pyrex will not attempt to
+# rebuild and update an already built docker image. Useful if you are offline
+# and your current image is good enough.
+%norebuild = 0
+
 # A list of environment variables that should be imported as Pyrex
 # configuration variables in the "env" section, e.g. ${env:HOME}. Note that
 # environment variables accessed in this way must be set or an error will
diff --git a/pyrex.py b/pyrex.py
index a81f82f..61c690e 100755
--- a/pyrex.py
+++ b/pyrex.py
@@ -247,12 +247,14 @@ def build_image(config, build_config):
                     .rstrip()
                 )
             else:
-                subprocess.check_call(engine_args, env=env)
+                if config["config"]["norebuild"] != "1":
+                    subprocess.check_call(engine_args, env=env)
                 build_config["build"]["buildid"] = get_image_id(config, tag)
 
             build_config["build"]["runid"] = build_config["build"]["buildid"]
 
-        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+            print(e, file=sys.stderr)
             return None
 
         build_config["build"]["buildhash"] = get_build_hash(build_config)
@@ -267,7 +269,8 @@ def build_image(config, build_config):
                 subprocess.check_call(engine_args)
 
                 build_config["build"]["buildid"] = get_image_id(config, tag)
-            except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+                print(e, file=sys.stderr)
                 return None
 
         build_config["build"]["runid"] = tag