diff --git a/scripts/npm.bat b/scripts/npm.bat
index d120d1c4816..3b451500580 100644
--- a/scripts/npm.bat
+++ b/scripts/npm.bat
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ setlocal
 set npm_config_disturl="https://atom.io/download/atom-shell"
 for /f "tokens=2 delims=:, " %%a in ('findstr /R /C:"\"electronVersion\":.*" %~dp0..\package.json') do set npm_config_target=%%~a
 set npm_config_arch="ia32"
+set npm_config_runtime="electron"
 set HOME=~\.electron-gyp
 
-npm --runtime=electron %*
+npm %*
 
 endlocal
diff --git a/scripts/npm.sh b/scripts/npm.sh
index c9905e82e18..9d959788dfc 100755
--- a/scripts/npm.sh
+++ b/scripts/npm.sh
@@ -24,5 +24,6 @@ mkdir -p $ELECTRON_GYP_HOME
 
 npm_config_disturl=https://atom.io/download/atom-shell \
 npm_config_target=$ELECTRON_VERSION \
+npm_config_runtime=electron \
 HOME=$ELECTRON_GYP_HOME \
-npm --runtime=electron $*
\ No newline at end of file
+npm $*
\ No newline at end of file