diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/lib/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/lib/red.js
index e46e40e26..2c6f00a6e 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/lib/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/lib/red.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ module.exports = {
             checkVersion(userSettings);
         }
 
-        if (!userSettings.coreNodesDir) {
+        if (!userSettings.hasOwnProperty("coreNodesDir")) {
             userSettings.coreNodesDir = path.dirname(require.resolve("@node-red/nodes"))
         }
         redUtil.init(userSettings);