diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 962c8b1a2..91dd14389 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ Then activate the environment, check that it works and install the dependencies:
 $ conda activate conda-smithy
 $ which python
 # ☝️ should now point to an environment-specific python
-$ python -m pip install .
+$ python -m pip install -e . --no-deps
 ```
 
 You might want to switch Python versions, for example if you wish to exactly replicate a CI issue locally. To do that: