diff --git a/crates/ra_cargo_watch/src/lib.rs b/crates/ra_cargo_watch/src/lib.rs
index 1cac954c393..c67ec39d48c 100644
--- a/crates/ra_cargo_watch/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_cargo_watch/src/lib.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub struct CheckOptions {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct CheckWatcher {
     // XXX: drop order is significant
-    cmd_send: Option<Sender<CheckCommand>>,
+    cmd_send: Sender<CheckCommand>,
     handle: Option<jod_thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     pub task_recv: Receiver<CheckTask>,
 }
@@ -51,19 +51,12 @@ pub fn new(options: &CheckOptions, workspace_root: PathBuf) -> CheckWatcher {
             let mut check = CheckWatcherThread::new(options, workspace_root);
             check.run(&task_send, &cmd_recv);
         });
-        CheckWatcher { task_recv, cmd_send: Some(cmd_send), handle: Some(handle) }
-    }
-
-    /// Returns a CheckWatcher that doesn't actually do anything
-    pub fn dummy() -> CheckWatcher {
-        CheckWatcher { task_recv: never(), cmd_send: None, handle: None }
+        CheckWatcher { task_recv, cmd_send, handle: Some(handle) }
     }
 
     /// Schedule a re-start of the cargo check worker.
     pub fn update(&self) {
-        if let Some(cmd_send) = &self.cmd_send {
-            cmd_send.send(CheckCommand::Update).unwrap();
-        }
+        self.cmd_send.send(CheckCommand::Update).unwrap();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/main_loop.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/main_loop.rs
index d35963e9568..c899ff6774b 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/main_loop.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/main_loop.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
 
-use crossbeam_channel::{select, unbounded, RecvError, Sender};
+use crossbeam_channel::{never, select, unbounded, RecvError, Sender};
 use lsp_server::{Connection, ErrorCode, Message, Notification, Request, RequestId, Response};
 use lsp_types::{
     ClientCapabilities, NumberOrString, WorkDoneProgress, WorkDoneProgressBegin,
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ pub fn main_loop(
                     Err(RecvError) => return Err("vfs died".into()),
                 },
                 recv(libdata_receiver) -> data => Event::Lib(data.unwrap()),
-                recv(world_state.check_watcher.task_recv) -> task => match task {
+                recv(world_state.check_watcher.as_ref().map_or(&never(), |it| &it.task_recv)) -> task => match task {
                     Ok(task) => Event::CheckWatcher(task),
                     Err(RecvError) => return Err("check watcher died".into()),
                 }
@@ -443,7 +443,9 @@ fn loop_turn(
         && loop_state.in_flight_libraries == 0
     {
         loop_state.workspace_loaded = true;
-        world_state.check_watcher.update();
+        if let Some(check_watcher) = &world_state.check_watcher {
+            check_watcher.update();
+        }
         pool.execute({
             let subs = loop_state.subscriptions.subscriptions();
             let snap = world_state.snapshot();
@@ -615,7 +617,9 @@ fn on_notification(
     };
     let not = match notification_cast::<req::DidSaveTextDocument>(not) {
         Ok(_params) => {
-            state.check_watcher.update();
+            if let Some(check_watcher) = &state.check_watcher {
+                check_watcher.update();
+            }
             return Ok(());
         }
         Err(not) => not,
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/world.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/world.rs
index 5680397ed82..ca045f93c84 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/world.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/world.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub struct WorldState {
     pub vfs: Arc<RwLock<Vfs>>,
     pub task_receiver: Receiver<VfsTask>,
     pub latest_requests: Arc<RwLock<LatestRequests>>,
-    pub check_watcher: CheckWatcher,
+    pub check_watcher: Option<CheckWatcher>,
     pub diagnostics: DiagnosticCollection,
 }
 
@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@ pub fn new(
             })
             .map(|cargo| {
                 let cargo_project_root = cargo.workspace_root().to_path_buf();
-                CheckWatcher::new(&options.cargo_watch, cargo_project_root)
+                Some(CheckWatcher::new(&options.cargo_watch, cargo_project_root))
             })
             .unwrap_or_else(|| {
                 log::warn!("Cargo check watching only supported for cargo workspaces, disabling");
-                CheckWatcher::dummy()
+                None
             });
 
         let mut analysis_host = AnalysisHost::new(lru_capacity);