diff --git a/src/cli/index.js b/src/cli/index.js
index 81ad5c0b37..1b754465e4 100644
--- a/src/cli/index.js
+++ b/src/cli/index.js
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ nconf.argv(opts).env({
 	separator: '__',
 });
 
+process.env.NODE_ENV = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'production';
+global.env = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'production';
+
 prestart.setupWinston();
 
 // Alternate configuration file support