diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 453bccb55..f997341d1 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+NODE_ENV=development
 PROXY_HOST=http://localhost
 PROXY_PORT=8080
diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index c5170eca9..8247e85d5 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ for (var routeId in routes) {
 }
 
 // Bind proxies in development
-if ( process.env.ENVIRONMENT == 'development' ) {
+if ( process.env.NODE_ENV != 'production' ) {
     var proxies = require('./proxies.json');
     var url = require('url');
     var proxyHost = process.env.PROXY_HOST || 'http://localhost';