diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c51f75baa..18f3d2d61 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "soapbox-fe",
   "version": "0.0.0",
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "npx webpack-dev-server --config webpack/development.js",
+    "start": "NODE_ENV=development npx webpack-dev-server --config webpack/development.js",
     "dev": "${npm_execpath} run start",
     "build:development": "NODE_ENV=development npx webpack --config webpack/development.js",
     "build:production": "NODE_ENV=production npx webpack --config webpack/production.js",
diff --git a/webpack/configuration.js b/webpack/configuration.js
index bafbfc095..5fd767e07 100644
--- a/webpack/configuration.js
+++ b/webpack/configuration.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const { safeLoad } = require('js-yaml');
 const { readFileSync } = require('fs');
 
 const configPath = join(__dirname, 'config', 'webpacker.yml');
-const settings = safeLoad(readFileSync(configPath), 'utf8')[env.RAILS_ENV || env.NODE_ENV];
+const settings = safeLoad(readFileSync(configPath), 'utf8')[env.NODE_ENV];
 
 const themePath = join(__dirname, 'config', 'themes.yml');
 const themes = safeLoad(readFileSync(themePath), 'utf8');