diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index a9da3da88..b2328c6c5 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ ARG INSTALL_SOFFICE=
 # leaner (development dependencies are not installed) and runs faster (among
 # other things, assets are minified & compressed).
 ENV NODE_ENV=production
-
+ENV ETHERPAD_PRODUCTION=true
 # Install dependencies required for modifying access.
 RUN apk add shadow
 # Follow the principle of least privilege: run as unprivileged user.
diff --git a/src/bin/installDeps.sh b/src/bin/installDeps.sh
index ce08007aa..002cf3d17 100755
--- a/src/bin/installDeps.sh
+++ b/src/bin/installDeps.sh
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ cd ep_etherpad-lite)
 
 cd src
 
-if [[ -z "${NODE_ENV}" ]]; then
+if [[ -z "${ETHERPAD_PRODUCTION}" ]]; then
   log "Installing dev dependencies"
-  npm ci --no-optional --omit=optional --include=dev --lockfile-version 1 || exit 1
+ npm ci --no-optional --omit=optional --include=dev --lockfile-version 1 || exit 1
 else
   log "Installing production dependencies"
   npm ci --no-optional --omit=optional --omit=dev --lockfile-version 1 --production || exit 1