diff --git a/src/freedombone-utils-nodejs b/src/freedombone-utils-nodejs
index 1c1b484d2f6e58df742d9f6eaa18034ff5635686..c5d94db29ca57e713256ec2dd1802ca0df550bcd 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-utils-nodejs
+++ b/src/freedombone-utils-nodejs
@@ -128,6 +128,13 @@ function mesh_install_nodejs {
     $mesh_install_nodejs_prefix n --arch $N_ARCH ${NODEJS_VERSION}
     cp $rootdir/root/npm $rootdir/usr/bin/npm
 
+    # deliberate second install of npm
+    $mesh_install_nodejs_prefix npm install --arch=$NPM_ARCH -g npm@${NPM_VERSION} --save
+    if [ -f $rootdir/usr/local/bin/npm ]; then
+        cp $rootdir/usr/local/bin/npm /usr/bin/npm
+    fi
+    cp $rootdir/usr/bin/npm $rootdir/root/npm
+
     # check the version numbers
     cat <<EOF > $rootdir/usr/bin/test_nodejs_install
 #!/bin/bash