diff --git a/buffalo/cmd/build/assets.go b/buffalo/cmd/build/assets.go
index b5d476c3c..9984a88c4 100644
--- a/buffalo/cmd/build/assets.go
+++ b/buffalo/cmd/build/assets.go
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ import (
 func (b *Builder) buildAssets() error {
 
 	if b.WithWebpack && b.Options.WithAssets {
-		envy.Set("NODE_ENV", "production")
-		err := b.exec(webpack.BinPath)
-		if err != nil {
+		if err := envy.MustSet("NODE_ENV", "production"); err != nil {
+			return errors.WithStack(err)
+		}
+		if err := b.exec(webpack.BinPath); err != nil {
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
 	}