diff --git a/libretro-build-ios.sh b/libretro-build-ios.sh
index b23d1c7a..a1fb9dbf 100755
--- a/libretro-build-ios.sh
+++ b/libretro-build-ios.sh
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ RARCH_DIST_DIR=$RARCH_DIR/ios/modules
 
 export IOSSDK=/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneOS6.1.sdk/
 
-# clone/fetch the emulator core repos
-cd $CORES_DIR
-"$ROOT_DIR/libretro-fetch.sh"
-
+if ! $SKIPFETCH ; then
+  # clone/fetch the emulator core repos
+  cd $CORES_DIR
+  "$ROOT_DIR/libretro-fetch.sh"
+fi
 
 MEDNAFEN_DIR_NAME=libretro-mednafen
 build_libretro_mednafen()