diff --git a/lib/warehouse.js b/lib/warehouse.js
index a52e3656f3..7574b8d165 100644
--- a/lib/warehouse.js
+++ b/lib/warehouse.js
@@ -57,12 +57,7 @@ var warehouse = module.exports = {
   releaseManifestByVersion: function(release) {
     if (release === 'none') {
       if (!files.usesWarehouse()) {
-        // safety belt so that we ensure we're running all packages locally,
-        // and that we don't springboard
-        return {
-          engine: 'none',
-          packages: {}
-        };
+        return null;
       } else {
         throw new Error("The 'none' release can only be used from a git checkout of Meteor");
       }