diff --git a/.github/workflows/builds.yml b/.github/workflows/builds.yml
index 2b39a7204b..d7202eab68 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/builds.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/builds.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ on:
         type: string
         description: Machines to build for
         default: all
+      dry_run:
+        type: boolean
+        description: Print build matrix and exit
+        default: false
       verbose:
         type: boolean
         description: Show error outputs
@@ -40,6 +44,10 @@ on:
         type: string
         description: Machines to build for (comma-separated | all)
         default: all
+      dry_run:
+        type: boolean
+        description: Print build matrix and exit
+        default: false
       verbose:
         type: boolean
         description: Show error outputs
@@ -65,6 +73,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build command line args
         run: |
           ARGS=""
+          # dry-run
+          if [ "${{ inputs.dry_run }}" == "true" ]; then
+            ARGS="$ARGS --dry-run"
+          fi
           # verbose
           if [ "${{ inputs.verbose }}" == "true" ]; then
             ARGS="$ARGS --verbose"
@@ -100,6 +112,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build command line args
         run: |
           ARGS=""
+          # dry-run
+          if [ "${{ inputs.dry_run }}" == "true" ]; then
+            ARGS="$ARGS --dry-run"
+          fi
           # verbose
           if [ "${{ inputs.verbose }}" == "true" ]; then
             ARGS="$ARGS --verbose"
diff --git a/contrib/build.sh b/contrib/build.sh
index 97e96042e4..d8573d9852 100755
--- a/contrib/build.sh
+++ b/contrib/build.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ help() {
   echo "   --no-clang           Do not run any clang builds"
   echo "   --no-deps            Do not install deps during any builds"
   echo "   --no-rust            Do not install rust"
+  echo "   --dry-run            Print build matrix and exit"
   echo "   --verbose            Show output from failed builds"
   echo "   --exit-on-err        Exit upon hitting the first failed build"
   echo "   --help           -h  Show this message and exit"
@@ -96,6 +97,10 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
     "--no-rust")
       NO_RUST=1
       ;;
+    # print build matrix and exit
+    "--dry-run")
+      DRY_RUN=1
+      ;;
     # exit upon hitting the first error
     "--exit-on-err")
       EXIT_ON_ERR=1
@@ -211,6 +216,10 @@ echo "gcc=[ ${GCC[*]} ]"
 echo "targets=[ ${TARGETS[*]} ]"
 echo
 
+if [[ $DRY_RUN -eq 1 ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 # Install rust and packages, also fetch the git repositories
 # needed for compiling.