diff --git a/cmd/mbf/cache.go b/cmd/mbf/cache.go
index 71cef98b..20dbd855 100644
--- a/cmd/mbf/cache.go
+++ b/cmd/mbf/cache.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ type cache struct {
 	idle bool
 	// Unset [pkg.CSuppressInit].
 	verboseInit bool
+	// Unset [pkg.CExternShallow].
+	deep bool
 	// Loaded artifact of [rosa.QEMU].
 	qemu pkg.Artifact
 
@@ -57,6 +59,9 @@ func (cache *cache) open() (err error) {
 	if !cache.verboseInit {
 		flags |= pkg.CSuppressInit
 	}
+	if !cache.deep {
+		flags |= pkg.CExternShallow
+	}
 
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	defer close(done)
diff --git a/cmd/mbf/main.go b/cmd/mbf/main.go
index df9c99b8..b2f2c0d6 100644
--- a/cmd/mbf/main.go
+++ b/cmd/mbf/main.go
@@ -217,6 +217,11 @@ func main() {
 		&cm.mirror,
 		"r", command.StringFlag("$MBF_REMOTE"),
 		"URL of mirror service",
+	).Flag(
+		&cm.deep,
+		"deep", command.BoolFlag(false),
+		"Cure all inputs even when the required artifact is available "+
+			"via the mirror service",
 	).Flag(
 		&cm.idle,
 		"sched-idle", command.BoolFlag(false),