diff --git a/tools/find-inactive-collaborators.mjs b/tools/find-inactive-collaborators.mjs
index e01b29ac5f9..71a00b970a9 100755
--- a/tools/find-inactive-collaborators.mjs
+++ b/tools/find-inactive-collaborators.mjs
@@ -189,8 +189,9 @@ const inactive = collaborators.filter((collaborator) =>
 if (inactive.length) {
   console.log('\nInactive collaborators:\n');
   console.log(inactive.map((entry) => `* ${entry.name}`).join('\n'));
-  console.log('\nGenerating new README.md file...');
-  const newReadmeText = await moveCollaboratorToEmeritus(inactive);
-  fs.writeFileSync(new URL('../README.md', import.meta.url), newReadmeText);
-  console.log('Updated README.md generated. Please commit these changes.');
+  if (process.env.GITHUB_ACTIONS) {
+    console.log('\nGenerating new README.md file...');
+    const newReadmeText = await moveCollaboratorToEmeritus(inactive);
+    fs.writeFileSync(new URL('../README.md', import.meta.url), newReadmeText);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/tools/find-inactive-tsc.mjs b/tools/find-inactive-tsc.mjs
index 871ca9af1ed..acd2cee45b6 100755
--- a/tools/find-inactive-tsc.mjs
+++ b/tools/find-inactive-tsc.mjs
@@ -260,10 +260,11 @@ if (inactive.length) {
   });
   console.log(`DETAILS_FOR_COMMIT_BODY=${commitDetails.join(' ')}`);
 
-  // Using console.warn() to avoid messing with find-inactive-tsc which consumes
-  // stdout.
-  console.warn('Generating new README.md file...');
-  const newReadmeText = await moveTscToEmeritus(inactive);
-  fs.writeFileSync(new URL('../README.md', import.meta.url), newReadmeText);
-  console.warn('Updated README.md generated. Please commit these changes.');
+  if (process.env.GITHUB_ACTIONS) {
+    // Using console.warn() to avoid messing with find-inactive-tsc which
+    // consumes stdout.
+    console.warn('Generating new README.md file...');
+    const newReadmeText = await moveTscToEmeritus(inactive);
+    fs.writeFileSync(new URL('../README.md', import.meta.url), newReadmeText);
+  }
 }