diff --git a/.npmrc b/.npmrc
index 858516285c60..0d2900e898ad 100644
--- a/.npmrc
+++ b/.npmrc
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ ignore-workspace-root-check=true
 strict-peer-dependencies=false
 shell-emulator=true
 registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/
+VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e970b851861f..11ba7e04232f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
     "lint": "eslint --cache .",
     "lint:fix": "nr lint --fix",
     "release": "bumpp package.json packages/*/package.json --commit --push --tag && pnpm -r publish --access public",
-    "test": "VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/ vitest --api -r test/core",
-    "test:run": "VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/ vitest run -r test/core",
-    "test:all": "VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/ CI=true pnpm -r --stream run test --allowOnly",
-    "test:ci": "VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/ CI=true pnpm -r --stream --filter !test-fails --filter !test-browser --filter !test-esm --filter !test-browser run test --allowOnly",
-    "test:ci:single-thread": "VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES=/node_modules/,/packages/ CI=true pnpm -r --stream --filter !test-fails --filter !test-coverage --filter !test-watch --filter !test-bail --filter !test-esm --filter !test-browser run test --allowOnly --no-threads",
+    "test": "vitest --api -r test/core",
+    "test:run": "vitest run -r test/core",
+    "test:all": "CI=true pnpm -r --stream run test --allowOnly",
+    "test:ci": "CI=true pnpm -r --stream --filter !test-fails --filter !test-browser --filter !test-esm --filter !test-browser run test --allowOnly",
+    "test:ci:single-thread": "CI=true pnpm -r --stream --filter !test-fails --filter !test-coverage --filter !test-watch --filter !test-bail --filter !test-esm --filter !test-browser run test --allowOnly --no-threads",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
     "typecheck:why": "tsc --noEmit --explainFiles > explainTypes.txt",
     "ui:build": "vite build packages/ui",
diff --git a/packages/vite-node/src/server.ts b/packages/vite-node/src/server.ts
index f468f51da063..e1eb6f5a4563 100644
--- a/packages/vite-node/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/vite-node/src/server.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ export class ViteNodeServer {
       this.debugger = new Debugger(server.config.root, options.debug!)
 
     options.deps.moduleDirectories ??= []
-    const customModuleDirectories = process.env.VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES?.split(',')
+
+    const envValue = process.env.VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES || process.env.npm_config_VITE_NODE_DEPS_MODULE_DIRECTORIES
+    const customModuleDirectories = envValue?.split(',')
     if (customModuleDirectories)
       options.deps.moduleDirectories.push(...customModuleDirectories)
   }