diff --git a/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/builders/browser-esbuild/index.ts b/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/builders/browser-esbuild/index.ts
index 73c09506b46b..3dc86fee2eb8 100644
--- a/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/builders/browser-esbuild/index.ts
+++ b/packages/angular_devkit/build_angular/src/builders/browser-esbuild/index.ts
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ async function bundleCode(
       ),
     ],
     define: {
-      'ngDevMode': optimizationOptions.scripts ? 'false' : 'true',
+      ...(optimizationOptions.scripts ? { 'ngDevMode': 'false' } : undefined),
       'ngJitMode': 'false',
     },
   });