diff --git a/bridges/Module_bridges.mk b/bridges/Module_bridges.mk
index eeec7c5452fe..800c8ca17f1a 100644
--- a/bridges/Module_bridges.mk
+++ b/bridges/Module_bridges.mk
@@ -93,8 +93,10 @@ $(eval $(call gb_Module_add_targets,bridges,\
 	) \
 ))
 
+ifneq (showmodules,$(MAKECMDGOALS))
 ifeq ($(strip $(bridges_SELECTED_BRIDGE)),)
 $(call gb_Output_error,no bridge selected for build: bailing out)
 endif
+endif
 
 # vim: set noet sw=4 ts=4: