diff --git a/lib/meteor_npm.js b/lib/meteor_npm.js
index 9e4766c053..f762941533 100644
--- a/lib/meteor_npm.js
+++ b/lib/meteor_npm.js
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ var meteorNpm = module.exports = {
   // dependencies. `npm install` times out after more than a minute.
   _ensureConnected: function () {
     try {
-      Future.wrap(files.getUrl)("http://npmjs.org").wait();
+      Future.wrap(files.getUrl)("http://registry.npmjs.org").wait();
     } catch (e) {
       throw new Error(
         "Can't install npm dependencies. Check your internet connection and try again.");