diff --git a/lib/flatpak-error.h b/lib/flatpak-error.h
index 58380e17..0499aa01 100644
--- a/lib/flatpak-error.h
+++ b/lib/flatpak-error.h
@@ -30,12 +30,15 @@ G_BEGIN_DECLS
  * FlatpakError:
  * @FLATPAK_ERROR_ALREADY_INSTALLED: App/runtime is already installed
  * @FLATPAK_ERROR_NOT_INSTALLED: App/runtime is not installed
+ * @FLATPAK_ERROR_ONLY_PULLED: App/runtime was only pulled into the local
+ *                             repository but not installed.
  *
  * Error codes for library functions.
  */
 typedef enum {
   FLATPAK_ERROR_ALREADY_INSTALLED,
   FLATPAK_ERROR_NOT_INSTALLED,
+  FLATPAK_ERROR_ONLY_PULLED
 } FlatpakError;
 
 #define FLATPAK_ERROR flatpak_error_quark ()
diff --git a/lib/flatpak-installation.c b/lib/flatpak-installation.c
index f88118a5..24c2d87c 100644
--- a/lib/flatpak-installation.c
+++ b/lib/flatpak-installation.c
@@ -1310,6 +1310,14 @@ flatpak_installation_install_ref_file (FlatpakInstallation *self,
  *
  * Install a new application or runtime.
  *
+ * Note that this function was originally written to always return a
+ * #FlatpakInstalledRef. Since 0.9.12.12, passing
+ * FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY will only pull refs into the local flatpak
+ * repository without deploying them, however this function will
+ * be unable to provide information on the installed ref, so
+ * FLATPAK_ERROR_ONLY_PULLED will be set and the caller must respond
+ * accordingly.
+ *
  * Returns: (transfer full): The ref for the newly installed app or %NULL on failure
  */
 FlatpakInstalledRef *
@@ -1361,12 +1369,26 @@ flatpak_installation_install_full (FlatpakInstallation    *self,
   else
     ostree_progress = ostree_async_progress_new_and_connect (no_progress_cb, NULL);
 
-  if (!flatpak_dir_install (dir_clone, FALSE, FALSE,
+  if (!flatpak_dir_install (dir_clone,
+                            (flags & FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_PULL) != 0,
+                            (flags & FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY) != 0,
                             (flags & FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_STATIC_DELTAS) != 0,
                             ref, remote_name, (const char **)subpaths,
                             ostree_progress, cancellable, error))
     goto out;
 
+  /* Note that if the caller sets FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY we must
+   * always return an error, as explained above. Otherwise get_ref will
+   * always return an error. */
+  if ((flags & FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY) != 0)
+    {
+      g_set_error (error,
+                   FLATPAK_ERROR, FLATPAK_ERROR_ONLY_PULLED,
+                   "As requested, %s was only pulled, but not installed",
+                   name);
+      goto out;
+    }
+
   result = get_ref (dir, ref, cancellable, error);
   if (result == NULL)
     goto out;
@@ -1396,6 +1418,14 @@ out:
  *
  * Install a new application or runtime.
  *
+ * Note that this function was originally written to always return a
+ * #FlatpakInstalledRef. Since 0.9.12.12, passing
+ * FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY will only pull refs into the local flatpak
+ * repository without deploying them, however this function will
+ * be unable to provide information on the installed ref, so
+ * FLATPAK_ERROR_ONLY_PULLED will be set and the caller must respond
+ * accordingly.
+ *
  * Returns: (transfer full): The ref for the newly installed app or %NULL on failure
  */
 FlatpakInstalledRef *
diff --git a/lib/flatpak-installation.h b/lib/flatpak-installation.h
index 94be2ff1..1e0a8627 100644
--- a/lib/flatpak-installation.h
+++ b/lib/flatpak-installation.h
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ typedef enum {
 typedef enum {
   FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NONE             = 0,
   FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_STATIC_DELTAS = (1 << 0),
+  FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_DEPLOY        = (1 << 2),
+  FLATPAK_INSTALL_FLAGS_NO_PULL          = (1 << 3),
 } FlatpakInstallFlags;
 
 /**