diff --git a/src/alr/alr-commands-search.adb b/src/alr/alr-commands-search.adb
index ed6485f38..becb67df5 100644
--- a/src/alr/alr-commands-search.adb
+++ b/src/alr/alr-commands-search.adb
@@ -51,7 +51,12 @@ package body Alr.Commands.Search is
             (if R.Is_Available (Platform.Properties)
                then " " else Flag_Unav) &
             (if R.Origin.Is_System then " " else
-                   (if Solver.Is_Resolvable
+                   (if not Cmd.Solve
+                    then
+                      (if R.Dependencies (Platform.Properties).Is_Empty
+                       then " "
+                       else TTY.Dim ("?"))
+                    elsif Solver.Is_Resolvable
                       (R.Dependencies (Platform.Properties),
                        Platform.Properties,
                        Alire.Solutions.Empty_Valid_Solution,
@@ -334,6 +339,8 @@ package body Alr.Commands.Search is
       .Append ("E: the release is externally provided.")
       .Append ("S: the release is available through a system package.")
       .Append ("U: the release is not available in the current platform.")
+      .Append ("?: the release has dependencies but solving was skipped "
+               & "(see --solve).")
       .Append ("X: the release has dependencies that cannot be resolved.")
       .New_Line
       .Append ("The reasons for unavailability (U) can be ascertained with"
@@ -383,6 +390,11 @@ package body Alr.Commands.Search is
                      Cmd.External'Access,
                      "", "--external",
                      "Include externally-provided releases in search");
+
+      Define_Switch (Config,
+                     Cmd.Solve'Access,
+                     "", "--solve",
+                     "Solve dependencies of releases");
    end Setup_Switches;
 
 end Alr.Commands.Search;
diff --git a/src/alr/alr-commands-search.ads b/src/alr/alr-commands-search.ads
index 8e0e40ecd..7bcbbd11f 100644
--- a/src/alr/alr-commands-search.ads
+++ b/src/alr/alr-commands-search.ads
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ private
       Full     : aliased Boolean := False;
       List     : aliased Boolean := False;
       External : aliased Boolean := False;
+      Solve    : aliased Boolean := False;
    end record;
 
 end Alr.Commands.Search;
diff --git a/testsuite/tests/search/basic/test.py b/testsuite/tests/search/basic/test.py
index ab4deac3d..b650b90dd 100644
--- a/testsuite/tests/search/basic/test.py
+++ b/testsuite/tests/search/basic/test.py
@@ -17,9 +17,16 @@ def format_table(*args):
         lines.append(format_line(*arg))
     return ''.join(lines)
 
-
-# List latest releases crates
+# List latest releases crates, without solving dependencies
 p = run_alr('search', '--list')
+assert_eq(format_table(
+    ('hello', '  ?', '1.0.1', '"Hello, world!" demonstration project', '', ''),
+    ('libhello', '', '1.0.0',
+     '"Hello, world!" demonstration project support library', '', ''),
+), p.out)
+
+# List latest releases crates, solving dependencies
+p = run_alr('search', '--list', '--solve')
 assert_eq(format_table(
     ('hello', '', '1.0.1', '"Hello, world!" demonstration project', '', ''),
     ('libhello', '', '1.0.0',
@@ -28,7 +35,7 @@ def format_table(*args):
 
 
 # List all releases crates
-p = run_alr('search', '--list', '--full')
+p = run_alr('search', '--list', '--full', '--solve')
 assert_eq(format_table(
     ('hello', '', '1.0.1', '"Hello, world!" demonstration project', '', ''),
     ('hello', '', '1.0.0', '"Hello, world!" demonstration project', '', ''),