diff --git a/pkgs/ffigen/lib/src/code_generator/objc_block.dart b/pkgs/ffigen/lib/src/code_generator/objc_block.dart
index 53697c3013..cc5f5b0f88 100644
--- a/pkgs/ffigen/lib/src/code_generator/objc_block.dart
+++ b/pkgs/ffigen/lib/src/code_generator/objc_block.dart
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ class ObjCBlock extends BindingType with HasLocalScope {
   ObjCBlockWrapperFuncs? _blockWrappers;
   ObjCProtocolMethodTrampoline? protocolTrampoline;
 
+  /// Whether this block needs helper methods generated.
+  /// Set to false by default if generating for package:objective_c, but can be
+  /// set to true if the block is referenced by a protocol.
+  bool needsHelper;
+
   final Parameter _blockParam;
   final Parameter _waiterParam;
   late final _FnHelper _helper;
@@ -66,7 +71,8 @@ class ObjCBlock extends BindingType with HasLocalScope {
     required this.returnType,
     required this.params,
     required this.returnsRetained,
-  }) : _waiterParam = Parameter(
+  }) : needsHelper = !context.objCBuiltInFunctions.generateForPackageObjectiveC,
+       _waiterParam = Parameter(
          name: 'waiter',
          type: PointerType(voidType),
          objCConsumed: false,
@@ -90,6 +96,8 @@ class ObjCBlock extends BindingType with HasLocalScope {
   void fillProtocolTrampoline() {
     protocolTrampoline ??= context.objCBuiltInFunctions
         .getProtocolMethodTrampoline(this);
+    // Blocks referenced by protocols need helpers even in package:objective_c.
+    needsHelper = true;
   }
 
   // Generates a human readable name for the block based on the args and return
@@ -141,6 +149,14 @@ class ObjCBlock extends BindingType with HasLocalScope {
     final s = StringBuffer();
 
     final context = w.context;
+
+    // Don't generate block helpers unless they're needed.
+    if (!needsHelper) {
+      return BindingString(
+        type: BindingStringType.objcBlock,
+        string: '',
+      );
+    }
     final voidPtr = PointerType(voidType);
     final blockPtr = PointerType(objCBlockType);
 
@@ -372,6 +388,11 @@ ref.pointer.ref.invoke.cast<${_helper.trampNatFnCType}>()
 
   @override
   BindingString? toObjCBindingString(Writer w) {
+    // Don't generate block helpers unless they're needed.
+    if (!needsHelper) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
     final chunks = [
       _blockWrappersBindingString(w),
       _protocolTrampolineBindingString(w),