diff --git a/crates/volta-core/src/run/executor.rs b/crates/volta-core/src/run/executor.rs
index 175223ed4..5d7517c05 100644
--- a/crates/volta-core/src/run/executor.rs
+++ b/crates/volta-core/src/run/executor.rs
@@ -288,7 +288,13 @@ impl PackageInstallCommand {
             .status()
             .with_context(|| ErrorKind::BinaryExecError)?;
 
-        if status.success() {
+        let was_npm_dry_run = self.installer.get_manager() == PackageManager::Npm
+            && self
+                .command
+                .get_args()
+                .any(|a| a == "-d" || a == "--dry-run");
+
+        if status.success() && !was_npm_dry_run {
             self.installer.complete_install(&image)?;
         }
 
diff --git a/crates/volta-core/src/run/parser.rs b/crates/volta-core/src/run/parser.rs
index 7e5b5c0d5..652646023 100644
--- a/crates/volta-core/src/run/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/volta-core/src/run/parser.rs
@@ -316,7 +316,10 @@ impl<'a> InstallArgs<'a> {
                     let command = PackageInstallCommand::new(args, platform, self.manager)?;
                     executors.push(command.into());
                 }
-                Ok(internal) => executors.push(InternalInstallCommand::new(internal).into()),
+                Ok(internal) => {
+                    // TODO: gotta fail here or something?
+                    executors.push(InternalInstallCommand::new(internal).into())
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/crates/volta-core/src/tool/package/mod.rs b/crates/volta-core/src/tool/package/mod.rs
index c8ae39fc5..258cc309f 100644
--- a/crates/volta-core/src/tool/package/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/volta-core/src/tool/package/mod.rs
@@ -174,6 +174,10 @@ impl DirectInstall {
         link_package_to_shared_dir(&name, manager)?;
         configure::write_config_and_shims(&name, &manifest, image, manager)
     }
+
+    pub fn get_manager(&self) -> PackageManager {
+        self.manager
+    }
 }
 
 /// Helper struct for direct in-place upgrades using `npm update -g` or `yarn global upgrade`