diff --git a/build/config/env.pyd b/build/config/env.pyd
index 5b1f78d..6281e21 100644
--- a/build/config/env.pyd
+++ b/build/config/env.pyd
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ PRODUCTION = PRODUCTION or "no"
 SDK = SDK or "no"
 BUILD_SDK = BUILD_SDK or "no"
 
+# if a port was given the `install` key and it was set
+# to False, then we don't install that port but we save
+# the associated built *.txz to this directory
+NON_INSTALLED_DIR = "non_installed_ports"
+
 # Any env variable that is profile specific should go in the file(s)
 # below and not in this common env.pyd file.
 # Also note that do not refer to any profile specific variable before
diff --git a/build/lib/utils.py b/build/lib/utils.py
index 34cbc93..ef9bb52 100644
--- a/build/lib/utils.py
+++ b/build/lib/utils.py
@@ -276,6 +276,12 @@ def error(fmt, *args):
 def get_port_names(ports):
     for i in ports:
         if isinstance(i, dict):
+            # since this function is called at the installation
+            # phase of the build process, we check to make sure
+            # that if `install` key is there and if it's set to
+            # false then we don't install it
+            if not i.get('install', True):
+                continue
             if 'package' in i:
                 yield i.package
             else:
diff --git a/build/profiles/freenas/ports-system.pyd b/build/profiles/freenas/ports-system.pyd
index 4ce6bb2..94b1eac 100644
--- a/build/profiles/freenas/ports-system.pyd
+++ b/build/profiles/freenas/ports-system.pyd
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ ports += {
 }
 ports += "lang/python3"
 ports += "lang/python"
+ports += {
+    "name": "lang/python38-debugging",
+    "install": False,
+}
 ports += "sysutils/scanlnk"
 ports += "sysutils/iocage"
 ports += "security/pam_mkhomedir"
diff --git a/build/tools/create-release-distribution.py b/build/tools/create-release-distribution.py
index e198090..8697090 100755
--- a/build/tools/create-release-distribution.py
+++ b/build/tools/create-release-distribution.py
@@ -29,14 +29,57 @@
 
 import os
 import json
-from dsl import load_file
-from utils import e, sh, sh_str, readfile, setfile, template, info
+import subprocess
+from dsl import load_file, load_profile_config
+from utils import e, glob, objdir, sh, sh_str, readfile, setfile, template, info
 
 
 dsl = load_file('${BUILD_CONFIG}/release.pyd', os.environ)
 url = dsl.url
 
 
+def stage_non_installed_ports():
+
+    """
+    If a port was given the `install` key and it was
+    set to False, then the port was not installed but
+    we still should save the associated *.txz file in
+    the final release directory.
+    """
+
+    config = load_profile_config()
+    glob_pattern = '/*.txz'
+
+    non_installed_ports = []
+    for i in config.ports:
+        if isinstance(i, dict) and not i.get('install', True):
+            if 'package' in i:
+                non_installed_ports.append(i.package)
+            else:
+                non_installed_ports.append(i.name)
+
+    if non_installed_ports:
+        sh('mkdir -p ${RELEASE_STAGEDIR}/${BUILD_ARCH_SHORT}/${NON_INSTALLED_DIR}')
+        pkgdir = subprocess.run(
+            ['find', objdir('ports/data/packages'), '-name', 'All', '-type', 'd'],
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+        if pkgdir.stdout:
+            pkgdir = pkgdir.stdout.decode().strip()
+
+            for i in non_installed_ports:
+                # port name will have the directory it resides in
+                # so make sure to remove it if it's there
+                if '/' in i:
+                    i = i.split('/')[1]
+
+                for t in glob(pkgdir + glob_pattern):
+                    pkg = t.split('/')[-1]
+                    if pkg.startswith(i):
+                        sh('cp ${t} ${RELEASE_STAGEDIR}/${BUILD_ARCH_SHORT}/${NON_INSTALLED_DIR}')
+
+
 def stage_release():
     sh('mkdir -p ${RELEASE_STAGEDIR}/${BUILD_ARCH_SHORT}')
     releases = [e('${OBJDIR}/${NAME}.${ext}') for ext in dsl.formats]
@@ -110,5 +153,6 @@ def create_json():
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     stage_release()
+    stage_non_installed_ports()
     create_aux_files(dsl, e('${RELEASE_STAGEDIR}'))
     create_json()