diff --git a/lib/main.js b/lib/main.js
index 619e1e3b..08f35cfc 100644
--- a/lib/main.js
+++ b/lib/main.js
@@ -483,7 +483,10 @@ Lambda.prototype._archivePrebuilt = function (program, archive_callback) {
 };
 
 Lambda.prototype._buildAndArchive = function (program, archive_callback) {
-  this._createSampleFile('.env', '.env');
+  if (!fs.existsSync('.env')) {
+    console.warn('[Warning] `.env` file does not exist.');
+    console.info('Execute `node-lambda setup` as necessary and set it up.');
+  }
 
   // Warn if not building on 64-bit linux
   var arch = process.platform + '.' + process.arch;