diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 41199bc89..26badc1f3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -74,12 +74,9 @@
 builder = importlib.util.module_from_spec(builder_spec)
 builder_spec.loader.exec_module(builder)
 
-# Skip prequisites check for pip install stage
-os.environ["NO_CHECKS"] = "1"
-
 # helper classes for building dependencies that are
 # also utilized by the Smart CLI
-build_env = buildenv.BuildEnv()
+build_env = buildenv.BuildEnv(checks=False)
 versions = buildenv.Versioner()
 
 # check for compatible python versions
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/_install/buildenv.py b/smartsim/_core/_install/buildenv.py
index 436b6df5d..427f63e9c 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/_install/buildenv.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/_install/buildenv.py
@@ -320,8 +320,9 @@ class BuildEnv:
     CHECKS = int(os.environ.get("NO_CHECKS", 0))
     PLATFORM = sys.platform
 
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.check_dependencies()
+    def __init__(self, checks=True):
+        if checks:
+            self.check_dependencies()
 
     def check_dependencies(self):
         deps = ["git", "git-lfs", "make", "wget", "cmake", self.CC, self.CXX]