diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 2fe145e83..475aaaea4 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 unreleased
 ----------
 
+- Add `-dune-optional-output` mode for dune's internal use
+  (#482, @NathanReb)
 - Insert errors from caught located exceptions in place of the code that
   should have been generated by context-free rules. (#472, @NathanReb)
 
diff --git a/src/driver.ml b/src/driver.ml
index 659df1d3f..41abe6cf5 100644
--- a/src/driver.ml
+++ b/src/driver.ml
@@ -304,11 +304,13 @@ module Transform = struct
     in
     { t with impl = Some map_impl; intf = Some map_intf }
 
+  let builtin_context_free_name = "<builtin:context-free>"
+
   let builtin_of_context_free_rewriters ~hook ~rules ~enclose_impl ~enclose_intf
       ~input_name =
     merge_into_generic_mappers ~hook ~input_name
       {
-        name = "<builtin:context-free>";
+        name = builtin_context_free_name;
         aliases = [];
         impl = None;
         intf = None;
@@ -323,6 +325,21 @@ module Transform = struct
         registered_at = Caller_id.get ~skip:[];
       }
 
+  (* Meant to be used after partitioning *)
+  let rewrites_not_context_free t =
+    match t with
+    | { name; _ } when String.equal name builtin_context_free_name -> false
+    | {
+     impl = None;
+     intf = None;
+     instrument = None;
+     preprocess_impl = None;
+     preprocess_intf = None;
+     _;
+    } ->
+        false
+    | _ -> true
+
   let partition_transformations ts =
     let before_instrs, after_instrs, rest =
       List.fold_left ts ~init:([], [], []) ~f:(fun (bef_i, aft_i, rest) t ->
@@ -528,11 +545,21 @@ let get_whole_ast_passes ~embed_errors ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~tool_name
   linters @ preprocess @ before_instrs @ make_generic cts @ after_instrs
 
 let apply_transforms ~tool_name ~file_path ~field ~lint_field ~dropped_so_far
-    ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors ast =
+    ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors ?rewritten ast =
+  let _ = rewritten in
   let cts =
     get_whole_ast_passes ~tool_name ~embed_errors ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler
       ~input_name
   in
+  (match rewritten with
+  | None -> ()
+  | Some rewritten -> (
+      match List.filter cts ~f:Transform.rewrites_not_context_free with
+      | [] -> ()
+      | _ ->
+          (* We won't be able to accurately tell whether any rewriting has
+             happened *)
+          rewritten := true));
   let finish (ast, _dropped, lint_errors, errors) =
     ( ast,
       List.map lint_errors ~f:(fun (loc, s) ->
@@ -633,8 +660,8 @@ let sort_errors_by_loc errors =
 
 (*$*)
 
-let map_structure_gen st ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
-    ~embed_errors =
+let map_structure_gen ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
+    ~embed_errors ?rewritten st =
   Cookies.acknowledge_cookies T;
   if !perform_checks then (
     Attribute.reset_checks ();
@@ -693,7 +720,7 @@ let map_structure_gen st ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
       ~field:(fun (ct : Transform.t) -> ct.impl)
       ~lint_field:(fun (ct : Transform.t) -> ct.lint_impl)
       ~dropped_so_far:Attribute.dropped_so_far_structure ~hook
-      ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors
+      ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors ?rewritten
   in
   st |> lint lint_errors |> cookies_and_check |> with_errors (List.rev errors)
 
@@ -703,14 +730,14 @@ let map_structure st =
       ~tool_name:(Astlib.Ast_metadata.tool_name ())
       ~hook:Context_free.Generated_code_hook.nop
       ~expect_mismatch_handler:Context_free.Expect_mismatch_handler.nop
-      ~input_name:None ~embed_errors:false
+      ~input_name:None ~embed_errors:false ?rewritten:None
   with
   | ast -> ast
 
 (*$ str_to_sig _last_text_block *)
 
-let map_signature_gen sg ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
-    ~embed_errors =
+let map_signature_gen ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
+    ~embed_errors ?rewritten sg =
   Cookies.acknowledge_cookies T;
   if !perform_checks then (
     Attribute.reset_checks ();
@@ -769,7 +796,7 @@ let map_signature_gen sg ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name
       ~field:(fun (ct : Transform.t) -> ct.intf)
       ~lint_field:(fun (ct : Transform.t) -> ct.lint_intf)
       ~dropped_so_far:Attribute.dropped_so_far_signature ~hook
-      ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors
+      ~expect_mismatch_handler ~input_name ~embed_errors ?rewritten
   in
   sg |> lint lint_errors |> cookies_and_check |> with_errors (List.rev errors)
 
@@ -779,7 +806,7 @@ let map_signature sg =
       ~tool_name:(Astlib.Ast_metadata.tool_name ())
       ~hook:Context_free.Generated_code_hook.nop
       ~expect_mismatch_handler:Context_free.Expect_mismatch_handler.nop
-      ~input_name:None ~embed_errors:false
+      ~input_name:None ~embed_errors:false ?rewritten:None
   with
   | ast -> ast
 
@@ -917,6 +944,7 @@ type output_mode =
   | Dparsetree
   | Reconcile of Reconcile.mode
   | Null
+  | Dune_optional_output
 
 (*$*)
 let extract_cookies_str st =
@@ -1036,14 +1064,14 @@ struct
   let set x = t.data <- Some x
 end
 
-let process_ast (ast : Intf_or_impl.t) ~input_name ~tool_name ~hook
-    ~expect_mismatch_handler ~embed_errors =
+let process_ast ~input_name ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler
+    ~embed_errors ?rewritten (ast : Intf_or_impl.t) =
   match ast with
   | Intf x ->
       let ast =
         match
           map_signature_gen x ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler
-            ~input_name:(Some input_name) ~embed_errors
+            ~input_name:(Some input_name) ~embed_errors ?rewritten
         with
         | ast -> ast
       in
@@ -1052,18 +1080,28 @@ let process_ast (ast : Intf_or_impl.t) ~input_name ~tool_name ~hook
       let ast =
         match
           map_structure_gen x ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler
-            ~input_name:(Some input_name) ~embed_errors
+            ~input_name:(Some input_name) ~embed_errors ?rewritten
         with
         | ast -> ast
       in
       Intf_or_impl.Impl ast
 
+let pp_ast ~output (ast : Intf_or_impl.t) =
+  with_output output ~binary:false ~f:(fun oc ->
+      let ppf = Stdlib.Format.formatter_of_out_channel oc in
+      (match ast with
+      | Intf ast -> Pprintast.signature ppf ast
+      | Impl ast -> Pprintast.structure ppf ast);
+      let null_ast = match ast with Intf [] | Impl [] -> true | _ -> false in
+      if not null_ast then Stdlib.Format.pp_print_newline ppf ())
+
 let process_file (kind : Kind.t) fn ~input_name ~relocate ~output_mode
     ~embed_errors ~output =
   File_property.reset_all ();
   List.iter (List.rev !process_file_hooks) ~f:(fun f -> f ());
   corrections := [];
   let replacements = ref [] in
+  let rewritten = ref false in
   let tool_name = "ppx_driver" in
   let hook : Context_free.Generated_code_hook.t =
     match output_mode with
@@ -1075,6 +1113,7 @@ let process_file (kind : Kind.t) fn ~input_name ~relocate ~output_mode
                 (Reconcile.Replacement.make () ~context:(Extension context)
                    ~start:loc.loc_start ~stop:loc.loc_end ~repl:generated));
         }
+    | Dune_optional_output -> { f = (fun _ _ _ -> rewritten := true) }
     | _ -> Context_free.Generated_code_hook.nop
   in
   let expect_mismatch_handler : Context_free.Expect_mismatch_handler.t =
@@ -1097,7 +1136,7 @@ let process_file (kind : Kind.t) fn ~input_name ~relocate ~output_mode
           let ast =
             extract_cookies ast
             |> process_ast ~input_name ~tool_name ~hook ~expect_mismatch_handler
-                 ~embed_errors
+                 ~embed_errors ~rewritten
           in
           (input_fname, input_version, ast)
         with exn when embed_errors ->
@@ -1134,16 +1173,8 @@ let process_file (kind : Kind.t) fn ~input_name ~relocate ~output_mode
 
   (match output_mode with
   | Null -> ()
-  | Pretty_print ->
-      with_output output ~binary:false ~f:(fun oc ->
-          let ppf = Stdlib.Format.formatter_of_out_channel oc in
-          (match ast with
-          | Intf ast -> Pprintast.signature ppf ast
-          | Impl ast -> Pprintast.structure ppf ast);
-          let null_ast =
-            match ast with Intf [] | Impl [] -> true | _ -> false
-          in
-          if not null_ast then Stdlib.Format.pp_print_newline ppf ())
+  | Pretty_print -> pp_ast ~output ast
+  | Dune_optional_output -> if !rewritten then pp_ast ~output ast
   | Dump_ast ->
       with_output output ~binary:true ~f:(fun oc ->
           Ast_io.write oc
@@ -1191,7 +1222,10 @@ let set_output_mode mode =
   match (!output_mode, mode) with
   | Pretty_print, _ -> output_mode := mode
   | _, Pretty_print -> assert false
-  | Dump_ast, Dump_ast | Dparsetree, Dparsetree -> ()
+  | Dune_optional_output, Dune_optional_output
+  | Dump_ast, Dump_ast
+  | Dparsetree, Dparsetree ->
+      ()
   | Reconcile a, Reconcile b when Poly.equal a b -> ()
   | x, y ->
       let arg_of_output_mode = function
@@ -1201,6 +1235,7 @@ let set_output_mode mode =
         | Reconcile Using_line_directives -> "-reconcile"
         | Reconcile Delimiting_generated_blocks -> "-reconcile-with-comments"
         | Null -> "-null"
+        | Dune_optional_output -> "-dune-optional-output"
       in
       raise
         (Arg.Bad
@@ -1409,6 +1444,9 @@ let standalone_args =
     ( "-corrected-suffix",
       Arg.Set_string corrected_suffix,
       "SUFFIX Suffix to append to corrected files" );
+    ( "-dune-optional-output",
+      Arg.Unit (fun () -> set_output_mode Dune_optional_output),
+      " For dune's internal use only" );
   ]
 
 let get_args ?(standalone_args = standalone_args) () =
diff --git a/test/driver/dune-optional-output/context_free_only_driver.ml b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/context_free_only_driver.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2a1af72ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/context_free_only_driver.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+open Ppxlib
+
+let rule =
+  Context_free.Rule.extension
+    (Extension.V3.declare "iam1" Extension.Context.expression
+       Ast_pattern.(pstr nil)
+       (fun ~ctxt ->
+         let loc = Expansion_context.Extension.extension_point_loc ctxt in
+         [%expr 1]))
+
+let () = Driver.register_transformation ~rules:[ rule ] "iam1"
+let () = Driver.standalone ()
diff --git a/test/driver/dune-optional-output/driver_with_impl.ml b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/driver_with_impl.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a88024635
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/driver_with_impl.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+open Ppxlib
+
+let rule =
+  Context_free.Rule.extension
+    (Extension.V3.declare "iam1" Extension.Context.expression
+       Ast_pattern.(pstr nil)
+       (fun ~ctxt ->
+         let loc = Expansion_context.Extension.extension_point_loc ctxt in
+         [%expr 1]))
+
+let () = Driver.register_transformation ~rules:[ rule ] "iam1"
+
+let () =
+  Driver.register_transformation ~impl:(fun str -> str) "IdentityInDisguise"
+
+let () = Driver.standalone ()
diff --git a/test/driver/dune-optional-output/dune b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/dune
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..936762c80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/dune
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+(executable
+ (name context_free_only_driver)
+ (libraries ppxlib)
+ (preprocess
+  (pps ppxlib.metaquot))
+ (modules context_free_only_driver))
+
+(executable
+ (name driver_with_impl)
+ (libraries ppxlib)
+ (preprocess
+  (pps ppxlib.metaquot))
+ (modules driver_with_impl))
+
+(cram
+ (deps context_free_only_driver.exe driver_with_impl.exe))
diff --git a/test/driver/dune-optional-output/run.t b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/run.t
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3221fe171
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/driver/dune-optional-output/run.t
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+The -dune-optional-output flag is meant for dune to be able
+to use ppx internally without having a build dependency on ppxlib
+or any ppx.
+
+When enabled, it should not write to the output if it can absolutely
+tell no transformation occured.
+
+We have a driver with a single context free rule to expand [%iam1] extension
+
+Let us consider the following file:
+
+  $ cat > foo.ml << EOF
+  > let x = 1
+  > let y = 2
+  > EOF
+
+If we call the driver with the -dune-optional-output flag, it should not write a file:
+
+  $ ./context_free_only_driver.exe -impl -dune-optional-output -o foo.pp.ml foo.ml
+  $ ls foo.*
+  foo.ml
+
+We can see that it did not write test.pp.ml
+
+Now if we actually use the extension:
+
+  $ cat > bar.ml << EOF
+  > let x = [%iam1]
+  > let y = 2
+  > EOF
+
+It should actually detect the transformation and therefore write the output file:
+
+  $ ./context_free_only_driver.exe -impl -dune-optional-output -o bar.pp.ml bar.ml
+  $ ls bar.*
+  bar.ml
+  bar.pp.ml
+
+Now we have another driver that has the same context free rule but also another
+transformation with an "impl", i.e. a rule to rewrite the whole AST unconditionnally.
+This rule does not rewrite anything and is just the identity rewriter.
+We cannot tell without actually comparing the ASTs if any rewriting happened so in
+that case we always write to the output.
+
+  $ cat > baz.ml << EOF
+  > let x = 1
+  > let y = 2
+  > EOF
+  $ ./driver_with_impl.exe -impl -dune-optional-output -o baz.pp.ml baz.ml
+  $ ls baz.*
+  baz.ml
+  baz.pp.ml
diff --git a/test/driver/run_as_ppx_rewriter_preserve_version/dune b/test/driver/run_as_ppx_rewriter_preserve_version/dune
index 9b74d4f75..31ee14bc5 100644
--- a/test/driver/run_as_ppx_rewriter_preserve_version/dune
+++ b/test/driver/run_as_ppx_rewriter_preserve_version/dune
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 (executable
  (name identity_standalone)
  (libraries ppxlib)
+ (preprocess
+  (pps ppxlib.metaquot))
  (modules identity_standalone))
 
 (executable
  (name print_magic_number)
  (libraries astlib)
+ (preprocess
+  (pps ppxlib.metaquot))
  (modules print_magic_number))
 
 (cram