diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
index 813cd7846..5fca7702a 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ def main():
             gateware_bin = convert_gateware(
                 artifact_path(variant, "gateware", "top.bit"))
             programmer.write_binary(*config["gateware"], gateware_bin)
-            if args.target == "sayma":
+            if args.target == "sayma" and args.variant != "master":
                 rtm_gateware_bin = convert_gateware(
                     artifact_path("rtm_gateware", "rtm.bit"), header=True)
                 programmer.write_binary(*config["rtm_gateware"],