diff --git a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
index cfd005b1030..6e4464cd1d9 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/__init__.py
@@ -369,14 +369,14 @@ def build(self, docnames, summary=None, method='update'):
         else:
             logger.info(__('none found'))
 
-        # save the environment
-        from sphinx.application import ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME
-        logger.info(bold(__('pickling environment... ')), nonl=True)
-        with open(path.join(self.doctreedir, ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME), 'wb') as f:
-            pickle.dump(self.env, f, pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL)
-        logger.info(__('done'))
-
         if updated_docnames:
+            # save the environment
+            from sphinx.application import ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME
+            logger.info(bold(__('pickling environment... ')), nonl=True)
+            with open(path.join(self.doctreedir, ENV_PICKLE_FILENAME), 'wb') as f:
+                pickle.dump(self.env, f, pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL)
+            logger.info(__('done'))
+
             # global actions
             self.app.phase = BuildPhase.CONSISTENCY_CHECK
             logger.info(bold(__('checking consistency... ')), nonl=True)