diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
index 0b1c7f705..9471fa8c9 100755
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
@@ -1937,8 +1937,10 @@ object Classpaths {
         if (isSnapshot.value) "integration" else "release",
         ivyConfigurations.value.map(c => ConfigRef(c.name)).toVector,
         packagedArtifacts.in(publish).value.toVector,
-        checksums.in(publish).value.toVector,
-        getPublishTo(publishTo.value).name,
+        checksums.in(publish).value.toVector, { //resolvername: not required if publishTo is false
+          val publishToOption = publishTo.value
+          if (publishArtifact.value) getPublishTo(publishToOption).name else "local"
+        },
         ivyLoggingLevel.value,
         isSnapshot.value
       )
diff --git a/notes/1.2.0/publishTo-not-required-if-not-publishing.md b/notes/1.2.0/publishTo-not-required-if-not-publishing.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b2c4ca842
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notes/1.2.0/publishTo-not-required-if-not-publishing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+[@mpollmeier]: https://github.com/mpollmeier
+
+[#3760]: https://github.com/sbt/sbt/pull/3760
+
+### Fixes with compatibility implications
+
+### Improvements
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+- Remove requirement on `publishTo` if `publishArtifact` is false. [#3760][] by [@mpollmeier][]
diff --git a/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/build.sbt b/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/build.sbt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36e1cdfd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/build.sbt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// this is supposed to do nothing, and more importantly: not fail
+// https://github.com/sbt/sbt/pull/3760
+publishArtifact := false
diff --git a/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/test b/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c78ab3f9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sbt/src/sbt-test/project/no-publish/test
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+> publish
\ No newline at end of file