diff --git a/lib/webpack/client.config.js b/lib/webpack/client.config.js
index 930b5646d9..eb74df5d0f 100644
--- a/lib/webpack/client.config.js
+++ b/lib/webpack/client.config.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export default function () {
   config.plugins = (config.plugins || []).concat([
     // Strip comments in Vue code
     new webpack.DefinePlugin(Object.assign(env, {
-      'process.env.NODE_ENV': JSON.stringify(this.dev ? 'development' : 'production'),
+      'process.env.NODE_ENV': JSON.stringify(env.NODE_ENV || (this.dev ? 'development' : 'production')),
       'process.BROWSER_BUILD': true,
       'process.SERVER_BUILD': false,
       'process.browser': true,