diff --git a/Makefile.local b/Makefile.local
--- a/Makefile.local
+++ b/Makefile.local
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+PIP_INSTALL_EDITABLE?=yes
+
+ifeq ($(PIP_INSTALL_EDITABLE),yes)
+PIP_INSTALL_OPTIONS="-e"
+else
+PIP_INSTALL_OPTIONS=
+endif
 
 check-mypy:
 	@echo "no op - swh-docs does not need typechecking, skipping"
@@ -13,5 +20,5 @@
 	python3 -m pip install pifpaf
 	sed 's/#.*$$//;/^$$/d' requirements-swh-dev.txt | \
 	while IFS= read -r package; do \
-	  python3 -m pip install -e $$package ; \
+	  python3 -m pip install $(PIP_INSTALL_OPTIONS) $$package ; \
 	done