diff --git a/src/MfGames.ToolBuilder/ToolBuilder.cs b/src/MfGames.ToolBuilder/ToolBuilder.cs
index cbd41f2..572e373 100644
--- a/src/MfGames.ToolBuilder/ToolBuilder.cs
+++ b/src/MfGames.ToolBuilder/ToolBuilder.cs
@@ -49,14 +49,31 @@ namespace MfGames.ToolBuilder
             this.loggingService.Configure(arguments);
 
             // Start up the basic configuration.
-            this.hostBuilder = Host
-                .CreateDefaultBuilder(arguments)
-                .UseConsoleLifetime()
-                .ConfigureAppConfiguration(this.ConfigureAppConfiguration)
-                .UseSerilog()
-                .UseServiceProviderFactory(new AutofacServiceProviderFactory())
-                .ConfigureServices(this.ConfigureServices)
-                .ConfigureContainer<ContainerBuilder>(this.ConfigureContainer);
+            //
+            // Normally, we would use Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args) to create
+            // this, but when run as a stand-alone application in someone's
+            // $HOME on Linux, this causes an inotify watcher to be registered
+            // on the entire directory tree (which takes a really long time).
+            //
+            // We also don't need most of the default features.
+            this.hostBuilder =
+                new HostBuilder()
+                    .UseDefaultServiceProvider(
+                        (context, options) =>
+                        {
+                            bool isDevelopment =
+                                context.HostingEnvironment.IsDevelopment();
+                            options.ValidateScopes = isDevelopment;
+                            options.ValidateOnBuild = isDevelopment;
+                        })
+                    .UseConsoleLifetime()
+                    .ConfigureAppConfiguration(this.ConfigureAppConfiguration)
+                    .UseSerilog()
+                    .UseServiceProviderFactory(
+                        new AutofacServiceProviderFactory())
+                    .ConfigureServices(this.ConfigureServices)
+                    .ConfigureContainer<ContainerBuilder>(
+                        this.ConfigureContainer);
         }
 
         /// <summary>