diff --git a/scripts/preinstall.js b/scripts/preinstall.js
index 783c47d..97931c4 100644
--- a/scripts/preinstall.js
+++ b/scripts/preinstall.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const env = {
 	HTTP_HOST: '0.0.0.0',
 	HTTP_PORT: 8080,
 	HTTP_TRUST_PROXY: false,
+	NODE_ENV: 'production', // not bot-specific
 	OVERRIDE_ARCHIVE: '',
 	PUBLIC_BOT: false,
 	PUBLISH_COMMANDS: false,
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 79a8a45..25d507f 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ if (!semver.satisfies(process.versions.node, pkg.engines.node)) {
 }
 
 // this could be done first, but then there would be no banner :(
-process.env.NODE_ENV ??= 'development'; // make sure NODE_ENV is set
+process.env.NODE_ENV ??= 'production'; // make sure NODE_ENV is set
 require('./env').load(); // load and check environment variables
 
 const fs = require('fs');