diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
index 3fd0b0cb6..fa2e736a8 100755
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'admin') {
 }
 
 var node_ver = parseInt(process.version.split('.')[0].substring(1));
-var node_rqd = parseInt((require('./package.json').engines.node).match(/\d+/).join(''));
+var node_rqd = parseInt((require('./package.json').engines.node).match(/\d+/).join('')) || 0;
 if (node_ver < node_rqd) {
     console.log("This version of Node-RED requires Node.js version",node_rqd,"as a minimum.");
     console.log("Please upgrade your Node.js version and restart.")