diff --git a/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run b/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
index 8c70b93d89..f73c3bd108 100644
--- a/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
+++ b/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
@@ -853,8 +853,36 @@ exec sed -i "/config/s/arch=\"\"/arch=\"[depot_spec]\"/" [initial_config_file de
 ## Depot content integrated in the Sculpt image
 ##
 
-create_tar_from_depot_binaries [run_dir]/genode/depot.tar \
+##
+# Return which kind of depot archive is wanted 'tar' or 'omit'
+#
+proc depot_archive { } {
+
+	global ::env
+
+	set archive "tar"
+	if {[info exists ::env(DEPOT)]} {
+		set archive "$::env(DEPOT)" }
+
+	if {$archive != "omit" && $archive != "tar"} {
+		puts stderr "Error: invalid value of DEPOT=$archive variable!" }
+
+	return $archive
+}
+
+proc create_depot_archive { } {
+	global ::env
+
+	if {[depot_archive] == "tar"} {
+		create_tar_from_depot_binaries [run_dir]/genode/depot.tar \
                                {*}[pkg_archive_paths [referenced_pkg_values]]
+	} else {
+		puts "Do not forget to publish:"
+		puts [pkg_archive_paths [referenced_pkg_values]]
+	}
+}
+
+create_depot_archive
 
 
 #