diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index acf571ff156..388f1e04686 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ int main (int argc, char * * argv)
         auto machines = readConf();
         debug("got %d remote builders", machines.size());
 
+        if (machines.empty()) {
+            std::cerr << "# decline-permanently\n";
+            return;
+        }
+
         string drvPath;
         string storeUri;
         for (string line; getline(cin, line);) {
diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index a9649ea378c..e756d3377c3 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -1598,8 +1598,15 @@ HookReply DerivationGoal::tryBuildHook()
 
         debug(format("hook reply is ‘%1%’") % reply);
 
-        if (reply == "decline" || reply == "postpone")
-            return reply == "decline" ? rpDecline : rpPostpone;
+        if (reply == "decline")
+            return rpDecline;
+        else if (reply == "decline-permanently") {
+            settings.useBuildHook = false;
+            worker.hook = 0;
+            return rpDecline;
+        }
+        else if (reply == "postpone")
+            return rpPostpone;
         else if (reply != "accept")
             throw Error(format("bad hook reply ‘%1%’") % reply);