diff --git a/cli/scripts/build.js b/cli/scripts/build.js
index b5fe4fb8c24d..155a8a47a35e 100644
--- a/cli/scripts/build.js
+++ b/cli/scripts/build.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const _ = require('lodash')
 const path = require('path')
 const shell = require('shelljs')
+const minimist = require('minimist')
 
 const fs = require('../lib/fs')
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ function getStdout (cmd) {
   return shell.exec(cmd).trim()
 }
 
-function preparePackageForNpmRelease (json) {
+function preparePackageForNpmRelease (json, branchName) {
   // modify the existing package.json
   // to prepare it for releasing to npm
   delete json.devDependencies
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ function preparePackageForNpmRelease (json) {
   _.extend(json, {
     version,
     buildInfo: {
-      commitBranch: process.env.CIRCLE_BRANCH || getStdout('git branch --show-current'),
+      commitBranch: branchName || process.env.CIRCLE_BRANCH || getStdout('git branch --show-current'),
       commitSha: getStdout('git rev-parse HEAD'),
       commitDate: new Date(getStdout('git show -s --format=%ci')).toISOString(),
       stable: false,
@@ -57,9 +58,9 @@ function preparePackageForNpmRelease (json) {
   return json
 }
 
-function makeUserPackageFile () {
+function makeUserPackageFile (branchName) {
   return fs.readJsonAsync(packageJsonSrc)
-  .then(preparePackageForNpmRelease)
+  .then((json) => preparePackageForNpmRelease(json, branchName))
   .then((json) => {
     return fs.outputJsonAsync(packageJsonDest, json, {
       spaces: 2,
@@ -71,7 +72,9 @@ function makeUserPackageFile () {
 module.exports = makeUserPackageFile
 
 if (!module.parent) {
-  makeUserPackageFile()
+  const args = minimist(process.argv)
+
+  makeUserPackageFile(args.branch)
   .catch((err) => {
     /* eslint-disable no-console */
     console.error('Could not write user package file')