diff --git a/npm/install.js b/npm/install.js
index 41052ac07b..ed208de247 100755
--- a/npm/install.js
+++ b/npm/install.js
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ try {
 
 var platformPath = getPlatformPath()
 
-if (installedVersion === version && fs.existsSync(path.join(__dirname, platformPath))) {
+var electronPath = process.env.ELECTRON_OVERRIDE_DIST_PATH || path.join(__dirname, 'dist', platformPath)
+
+if (installedVersion === version && fs.existsSync(electronPath)) {
   process.exit(0)
 }