diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/export.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/export.js
index 253f6e28d0..a06c74b86d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/export.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/export.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export default {
     const config = await cmd.getNuxtConfig({
       dev: false,
       target: TARGETS.static,
-      _build: cmd.argv.build
+      _export: true
     })
     const nuxt = await cmd.getNuxt(config)
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.js
index f25f61b13f..24981fd039 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.js
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ export default {
   async run (cmd) {
     const config = await cmd.getNuxtConfig({
       dev: false,
-      _build: cmd.argv.build
+      _build: cmd.argv.build,
+      _generate: true
     })
 
     if (config.target === TARGETS.static) {