--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/tup.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/tup.py
@@ -374,16 +374,19 @@ class TupOnly(CommonBackend, PartialBack
 
     def _process_final_target_pp_files(self, obj, backend_file):
         for i, (path, files) in enumerate(obj.files.walk()):
             for f in files:
                 self._preprocess(backend_file, f.full_path,
                                  destdir=mozpath.join(self.environment.topobjdir, obj.install_target, path))
 
     def _handle_idl_manager(self, manager):
+        if self.environment.is_artifact_build:
+            return
+
         dist_idl_backend_file = self._get_backend_file('dist/idl')
         for idl in manager.idls.values():
             dist_idl_backend_file.symlink_rule(idl['source'], output_group=self._installed_files)
 
         backend_file = self._get_backend_file('xpcom/xpidl')
         backend_file.export_shell()
 
         for module, data in sorted(manager.modules.iteritems()):