diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
index 95334211ef..fff060e665 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"cmd/go/internal/base"
-	"cmd/go/internal/cache"
 	"cmd/go/internal/cfg"
 	"cmd/go/internal/load"
 	"cmd/go/internal/lockedfile"
@@ -162,12 +161,6 @@ func Init() {
 
 	// We're in module mode. Install the hooks to make it work.
 
-	if c := cache.Default(); c == nil {
-		// With modules, there are no install locations for packages
-		// other than the build cache.
-		base.Fatalf("go: cannot use modules with build cache disabled")
-	}
-
 	list := filepath.SplitList(cfg.BuildContext.GOPATH)
 	if len(list) == 0 || list[0] == "" {
 		base.Fatalf("missing $GOPATH")
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_cache_disabled.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_cache_disabled.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2e1327880b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_cache_disabled.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# The build cache is required to build anything. It also may be needed to
+# initialize the build system, which is needed for commands like 'go env'.
+# However, there are lots of commands the cache is not needed for, and we
+# shouldn't require it when it won't be used.
+#
+# TODO(golang.org/issue/39882): commands below should work, too.
+# * go clean -modcache
+# * go env
+# * go fix
+# * go fmt
+# * go generate
+# * go get -d
+# * go list (without -export or -compiled)
+
+env GOCACHE=off
+
+# Commands that don't completely load packages should work.
+go doc fmt
+stdout Printf
+
+go fmt .
+
+! go tool compile -h
+stderr usage:
+
+go version
+stdout '^go version'
+
+
+# Module commands that don't load packages should work.
+go mod init m
+exists go.mod
+
+go mod edit -require rsc.io/quote@v1.5.2
+
+go mod download rsc.io/quote
+
+go mod graph
+stdout rsc.io/quote
+
+go mod verify
+
+-- main.go --
+package main
+
+func main() {}