diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
index b76f748a4..476f3dfbf 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ async function installModule(moduleDetails) {
             "module": moduleDetails.module,
             "version": moduleDetails.version,
             "dir": installDir,
-            "args": ["--production","--engine-strict"]
+            "args": ["--omit=dev","--engine-strict"]
         }
         return hooks.trigger("preInstall", triggerPayload).then((result) => {
             // preInstall passed
diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/installer.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/installer.js
index 95022fbb1..aeb22be3d 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/installer.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/installer.js
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ async function installModule(module,version,url) {
             "dir": installDir,
             "isExisting": isExisting,
             "isUpgrade": isUpgrade,
-            "args": ['--no-audit','--no-update-notifier','--no-fund','--save','--save-prefix=~','--production','--engine-strict']
+            "args": ['--no-audit','--no-update-notifier','--no-fund','--save','--save-prefix=~','--omit=dev','--engine-strict']
         }
 
         return hooks.trigger("preInstall", triggerPayload).then((result) => {