diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/compile.towerops_nif.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/compile.towerops_nif.ex
index 32f852ea..bf1378ce 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/compile.towerops_nif.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/compile.towerops_nif.ex
@@ -1,12 +1,28 @@
 defmodule Mix.Tasks.Compile.ToweropsNif do
   @moduledoc """
   Compiles the towerops_nif C NIF.
+
+  In dev/test, runs `make -C c_src` to build `priv/towerops_nif.so`.
+  In prod, the NIF is pre-built by Nix and injected via build.nix preBuild,
+  so this task is a no-op.
   """
 
   use Mix.Task.Compiler
 
   @impl true
   def run(_args) do
+    if skip_compilation?() do
+      {:ok, []}
+    else
+      do_compile()
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp skip_compilation? do
+    Mix.env() == :prod or is_nil(System.find_executable("make"))
+  end
+
+  defp do_compile do
     {result, _exit_code} = System.cmd("make", [], cd: "c_src", stderr_to_stdout: true, into: IO.stream())
 
     case result do
@@ -25,8 +41,12 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Compile.ToweropsNif do
 
   @impl true
   def clean do
-    {_result, _exit_code} = System.cmd("make", ["clean"], cd: "c_src", stderr_to_stdout: true)
-    :ok
+    if skip_compilation?() do
+      :ok
+    else
+      {_result, _exit_code} = System.cmd("make", ["clean"], cd: "c_src", stderr_to_stdout: true)
+      :ok
+    end
   rescue
     _ -> :ok
   end