diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 08059db..ecc861f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@ test/common:
 $(NODE_MODULES_TEST): package.json
 	# if it exists already, npm install won't update it; force that so that we always get up-to-date packages
 	rm -f package-lock.json
-	npm install
-	npm prune
+	# unset NODE_ENV, skips devDependencies otherwise
+	env -u NODE_ENV npm install
+	env -u NODE_ENV npm prune
 
 .PHONY: all clean install devel-install dist-gzip srpm rpm check vm update-po